/ 

Unity Church Call. 



DESIGNED FOR THE CHURCHES OF THE 



Great Christian Unity 



A DENOMINATION ORGANIZED BY THE 



Negro Race of America 



November 15, 1891. 



FIRST BOOK BY THE 



Evangelistic Preacher, B. B. SMITH & SONS. 



Entered According to Act of Congress and Copyrighted by 
B. B. SMITH & SONS, 
Tomberlins, Lonoke Co., Arkansas. 
1891. 



I 



PREFACE. 

After proving that the Negro race has become of age in 
America, now having the right and authority to serve God from 
the Bible, according to the dictates of our own consciences, as 
any other race on earth. 

Then He said: "Let the race have her own discipline for 
her churches." After he had organized the denomination He 
said in our beginning: " Let all things be done decently and in 
order." — ist Cor. : 14 ch.. 40 ver. 

Published by 

B, B. SMITH & SONS, 

Post office : Tomberlins, Ark. 



CONTENTS. 

<c - 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE. 

The Nature of the Church 3 

What is a Christian Church ? 4 

Morals Among Morals 4 

Faith in Christ 5 

The Constitution of the Church , 7 

Recognition of Churches 9 

How Members are Received 9 

Probation 10 

How a Member Ceases to be a member 11 

The Offices of the Church 11 

The Doctrine of the Church 12 

1st. Declaration of Faith 13 

2d. Of the True God 14 

3d. The Fall of Man 14 

4th. Of the Way of Salvation 15 

5th. Of Justification ^ 16 

6th. Of the Freeness of Salvation 16 

7th. Of Grace in Regeneration 17 

8th. Of Repentance and Faith 18 

Qth. Of God's Purpose of Grace 19 

10th. Of Sanctification 20 

nth. Of the Perseverance of Saints 21 

12th. Of the Harmony of the Law and Gospel 21 

13th. Of a Gospel Church 22 

14th. Of Baptism, Foot Washing and the Lord's Supper 23 

15th. Of the Christian Sabbath 24 

16th. Of Civil Government 25 

17th. Of the Righteous and the Wicked 26 

CHAPTER II. 

The Church's Covenant — 26 

CHAPTER III. 



The Gospel 



27 



CHAPTER IV. 

PAGE. 

Of the Holy Baptism 28 

2d. The Foot Washing — How and When 30 

3d. The Lord's Supper — When and How to Take it in Second 

Order 34 

4th. A Few Scriptural Remarks about the Supper 37 

5th. What to Use in the Sacrament — it must be Water 38 

6th. How to Pray 41 

7th. Practical Prayer Meeting 42 

8th. Preaching the Gospel..... 43 

gth. Singing as a Leader 43 

10th. Ordination of Preachers 43 

nth. Why we Ordain Before Allowing to Preach 44 

12th. Ordination of Deacons 45 

13th. Treasure Department — How and When 45 

14th. Visiting the Sick 46 

15th. Selection of Officers... 46 

16th. Elders of the Church 48 

17th. The Collective Agency Officers 48 

18th. Children Baptism. 49 

19th. Sabbath School of the Church 50 

20th. On Becoming as Little Children 51 

21st. Services of this Church 52 

CHAPTER V. 

Government of the Church * 1 52 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Discipline of the Church 54 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Duties of the Pastor 55 

APPENDIX. 

Business Meeting of a Church 57 

Concerning Motions 58 

The Privilege Question 59 

Not Debatable 59 

Form of Credentials 61 

Certificate of an Evangelist 62 

Marriage Ceremony 62 

General Conclusion of Rev. B. B. Smith and Son 63 



Unity Church Call. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH. 

The term church occurs in the New Testament more than one 
hundred times. The word church translated means congregation 
or assembly, but it does not indicate the purpose for which the 
congregation or assembly meets ; hence it is used in Acts, 19 ch., 
32, 39, 41 vers., and rendered assembly in every other place in the 
New Testament so far as we can understand. And so it is trans- 
lated church. In its application to the followers of Christ it refers 
either to a particular congregation of saints or to the redeemed, in 
the aggregate it is employed in the latter sense in Eph., 1 ch., 
22 ver., 3rd and 21,5, 25, 27 vers. So here we have the ex- 
pression heard over all things : To the church ! to Him be glory ! 
In the church by Christ Jesus! throughout all ages, world without 
•end, amen ! 

Christ loved the church and gave himself for it that he might 
present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle 
or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. 
So now if we rightly understand the word church, it is meant indi- 
vidual person, or individual persons. 

He or they that will or do worship God in spirit and in truth, 
will flourish like a palm tree. In this she will sustain a nature like 
that of Christ. So the apostle writes to such supposed churches. 
There you will see he wrote to the church at Jerusalem, and to 
the church of God, which is at Corinth, and the church of the 
Thessalonians. There we see that the Thessalonians had a church ; 
also the church in Smyrna, the church in Phrymust, etc., etc. 

Now we see that in this church, or in that church, that keep 
the sayings of Christ is a relation to Christ, and sustains a share of 
the love of Christ for the church he built. There we see the apos- 
tles patronize all such churches, though they are few in number in 
some places. For we see Paul writing to Aquillia and Priscilla 
and the church which is in their house. And in His letter to 
Philemon he says "to the church in thy house." So we see that 
the church is recognized by the New Testament. If it is only two 
in number, it is a church in Christ. 



^ Unity Church Call. 

If it is approved by two or three members of some sister 
church of the same faith and order, after and investigation of the 
matters connected therewith, and if they agree and it be needed 
or required, it is a Christian church, and Christ will be in the 
midst. See Math., 18 ch., 19, 20 vers. 

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN CHURCH? 

In answer to this question will say: A Christian church is a 
congregation of baptized deciples of Christ, acknowledging Him 
as their only head over them, relying upon His atoning sacrifices 
for justification before God, and depending on the Holy Spirit for 
sanctification, united in the belief of the gospel, agreeing to main- 
tain its ordinances and obeying its demands, and keeping its say- 
ings, and following its precepts, as they have been delivered to us r 
and meeting together for worship and co-operation for the exten- 
sion of Christ's kingdom in the world. 

MORALS AMONG MORALS. 

Pre-requisite to membership may be mentioned repentance. 
John the Baptist, who was a forerunning prophet of Christ, sent 
from God to prepare the way before Christ. The way he was pre- 
paring was, it seems, the way and is now the way, men should go 
before Christ comes the second time. 

John was his true forerunner to teach the people repentance, 
as all true Christians now-a-days should be true runners to the sec- 
ond coming as John's was to the first coming. So we began 
preaching the same gospel. 

What was it that he preached? Was it singing and praying 
first? No. What then? His text to all was : "Repent ye, for the 
kingdom of heaven is at band." 

Repentance means to lay down wrong and take up right, and 
that before the kingdom comes. John preached him at hand, and 
so do we, ready to save and have power to damn the unrepentant. 
Repenting is man's own work to do, and he must do that before 
he can expect God's blessing. Repentance is as stated, to lay 
down wrong and take up right. It is not to please ourselves but 
our Savior, for it seems that all men love to do wrong; but this, 
my brethren, belongs to the immoral man. Now we see that the 
people confessed to John that their ways were wrong, which was 
their sin. and that they would do right, and he baptized them 
with water in water, and so do we. Now, when John was cast 
into prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching of the kingdom of 
God. and saying that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of 
heaven is at hand. Repent ye, and believe the gospel, and so say 
we to all men. Believe the gospel, for when the apostles were sent 
forth by Christ to preach, they came and their text was repent. 



Unity Church Call. j 

The Lord Jesus, after his restoration, said that it is written, 
and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead 
the third day, and that repentance and remission of sin should be 
preached in His name among all nations. And Peter, on the day 
of Pentecost said : 4 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the 
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." And Paul, who 
testified for three years at Athens, said : "Repentance towards 
God." "Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ," and proclaimed in 
Athens that "God commanded all men everywhere to repent now." 
So if we will notice the book of the New Testament we will find it 
full of this doctrine of repentance, and it is a doctrine of the Father 
and of the Son that man should repent. 

Repentance seems to be man's only doorway into righteous- 
ness, and the man's protection after he has broken the law of his 
creator and redeemer. It was not until the gospel dispensation 
that all men were permitted to repent for their sins, for they were 
held under the law and the penalty was death. Man's only safe- 
guard through eternity is to repent now. Repentance is to put 
the wrong down and let it stay down, and take up the right and 
keep it up. Repentance is a change of mind, an afterthought, 
accompanied by the deeds of the lamb's book, which is the New 
Testament. This must take place in man, and he must confess 
the same before being baptized, and be baptized, and join the 
church of God, for the purpose of doing right therein. Then let 
him that stoled steal no more; don't lie no more; don't whore- 
mong no more ; don't commit fornication no more; don't drink 
•strong drink no more, neither be a wine bibber nor whatsoever 
other things the Scripture requires or forbids, attend thereto.. This 
is the fruit of repentance that John called for before the coming of 
Christ, and what we want to-day is right-down, upright living, and 
we must have it for the second coming. The church is the place 
of righteousness, and everybody in the church should do right, 
teach right, work right, act right, and be right, and every one that 
comes to join the church should come to do right, for the church 
is the place of righteousness, a place for the righteous and not the 
wicked. Such intentions make you eligible to the church. 

FAITH IN CHRIST. 

This is another moral qualification of church membership, and 
of great importance in the Scriptures attached to faith in Christ. 
Such faith as this is required of man to enjoy the Scriptures, as will 
appear from the following passages : "He that believes in the Son 
has everlasting life. These things were written that ye may be- 
lieve that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and so believing ye 
may have life through his name. He that believeth in Him is not 
condemned; he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved by 
Him. All that believe are justified from all things whom God has 



6 Unity Church Call. 

set forth as a proportion through faith in his blood, that he might 
be the just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. There- 
fore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our 
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.'' These passages and many more 
like them clearly show in the economy of the gospel, that faith in 
Christ is recognized as an essential principle, and it is the world's 
duty to have faith in the only begotten son of God for several 
reasons, ist. We are satisfied since he has come and done so- 
n-men among the sons of men that no man could do ; we are per- 
suaded of the truth that Jesus is the son of God ; we look after 
him knowing that he was so glorious in himself, and was so kind 
to us. 2d. We search the Scripture after him; we see nothing 
he done to die for himself, therefore we believe that he must have 
died for the sons of men; we believe intellectually that he is the 
son of God, and to believe in him is to believe in doing what he 
has required, and in not doing what he has forbidden. For his 
disciples to believe otherwise would be wrong it seems. We be- 
lieve as Christ died for us he loved us. He loved us too well to 
tell us to do anything that would damn us, or cause us to be 
damned. We believe that his blood was the only blood that could 
save man ; that his words, commandments and ordinances, are the 
only way of getting home to rest ; we believe that each of his 
words have as much power as the other ; we believe that the Scrip- 
ture is a letter written from God to us, telling us what to do and 
what not to do to miss eternal punishment, and we take it as such. 
We read in it that whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is 
born of God, so borned is belief, and belief is borned. So this is 
the letter we have on this subject, and that is all we know about 
it. but we believe that every man, believing that Jesus is the Christ, 
ought to join God's service, and obey him in all things, and if we 
find one that confesses it we will try and get him in the church to 
serve God, teaching him that keeping God's commandments is the 
only way to know God, and the way for us to know him is to keep 
his commandments. He that sayeth he knows God and keepeth 
not his commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in hini. 
Hereby know we that we are in him if we keep his command- 
ments. The believer is required to be baptized, by which he is 
obligated to support the three persons in the Godhead, which is 
his first public confession of a renunciation of the world and the 
devil, all the balance of the work of confession is private matter 
between the soul and its maker. After the baptism any and all 
persons are entitled to the commandments of God, which is the 
book of the New Testament, and should be introduced to everyone, 
for as Christ said, "if ye keep them ye are my friends if ye do 
whatsoever I command you." It we don't do them we are not 
his friends. 



Unity Church Call, 7 

It is the duty of both church and confessor to know what the 
confessor confessed, and know whether there be a promise in the 
Bible for that confession, for Christ has not promised to confess us 
for everything we confess, but he said ' ' whosoever shall confess 
me before men, him shall I also confess before my father's face, 
which is heaven." So it is the duty of the confessor to confess if 
he believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that God raised him from 
the dead, and that he is both willing and able to save him if he 
will trust and serve him and are willing to do so at the same time, 
then let him say so. Then let the church receive him, for that is 
his duty to confess Christ here now, and Christ's duty to confess 
him there, then in the judgment before his father's face. 

To believe that Jesus is the Christ is an internal belief, but 
there must be an external manifestation, which is made in baptism. 
After the confession with the mouth, the believer is to go into the 
water and be baptized by some ordained minister of the. same faith 
and order in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And 
it is to be made known to him or her that they have through bap- 
tism obligated him or herself to support the three persons in the 
Godhead in righteousness, by being baptized in their holy names. 
Christ died for sin, so he or she is counted dead to the love of sin. 
So we the church expect a new life. So they are then given the 
book of the New Testament as the command of God, and tell the 
candidate if he or she keep the sayings of that book, they will 
never see death. Then their feet are washed and they are given a 
piece of unleavened bread as a representation of Christ's body, 
broken for them, and a swallow of clear water to represent the 
blood of Christ ; this puts on him the holy armor of God and has 
his feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ; then he 
or she is a member in the unity, and without it no one is thus 
under the moral and ceremonial qualification for membership, 
for in accordance with the New Testament it will be seen by re- 
ferring to the 13th ch. of St. John, between the 8th and 9th ver. : 
"If I wash thee not thou have no part with me." This is what 
Christ said to Peter after he had confessed him and had been bap- 
tized ; yet he was to have his feet washed or be rejected, so do 
we. We must teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ 
commanded us. See Math., 28 ch. , 20 ver. 

1st. The constitution of the church should be the rights and 
privileges that the Bible gives to the church of God ; first, in all 
of its meetings for business of any kind the meeting should be 
opened by reading a suitable passage of Scripture, and then sing- 
ing, if necessary, then the Lord's Prayer should be repeated by 
one of the brethern united by the host, and then the house may 
be considered open for the business for which it meets. 

2d. On church matters. No church should be organized 



8 U?iity Church Call. 

nearer than one mile of a sister church in the country. But 
whether in town or country, it would be well for two or three 
brethren of a sister church to agree with the brethren that com- 
pose a new church, if upon an investigation of the matter it is 
found necessary and circumstances so require, the brethren that 
compose a sister church should give them, the brethren that com- 
pose the new church, a royal welcome and encourage them as cir- 
cumstances may require. 

3d. But if to the contrary it may be omitted and satisfaction 
and harmony sought for between church and church, let peace 
abide the house of God. As said Christ: "My peace I leave 
with you and let it remain so/' 

4th. So in all of our works for God let us find his rights in 
his book for doing whatever we may have to be done, for Christ 
said : "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall 
have the light of life." This is the faith of this church that we 
follow Christ in all things, for it is written "Cursed is every one 
that continueth not in all things that is written in the book of life 
to do them. • 

The Bible, which is a lamp to our pathway, should be fol- 
lowed in all things, as it is the only way-bill we have, so let us be- 
lieve according to it, let us talk according to it, let us walk 
according to it, let us repent according to it, let us be baptized 
according to it, let us wash our feet according to it, let us pray 
according to it, let us take sacrament according to it, let us preach 
according to it, and so on in the constitution of this church. If 
we do these things, my brethren, we can't be lost. 

Christ wanted us to be saved so came down from heaven and 
stayed thirty-three years, and taught us how to do and what to do 
to be saved, and we would be foolish not to heed his instructions. 
And he said unto you "Watch," he said unto all, "Watch." And 
he said again "Search the Scripture, for in them ye think ye have 
eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." So now the 
book of his orders is commended to us all in this our constitution, 
so be ye submissive unto it. 

The ruling power of the church is with the elder or elders of 
the church when elected by the church as we see. God left it in 
the hands of the elders and they ruled it according to his will it 
seems. 

We see Paul tell the church who should be excluded and who 
to take in, and when to and who to forgive, and his instruction 
was followed. And again it is said "The elder that rules well be 
counted worthy of double honor." And again in the last com- 
mission Christ gave charge he told them "To teach all nations, to 
baptize them." So we see in this that the elders are to teach 
and preach, and the church is to obey. But his teachings must be 



Unity Church Call. g 

such that the church can unite with him, and it must be accord- 
ing as Christ has laid it down. So here we have it: "If any man 
preach any other gospel than that ye have received, let him be 
cursed." And again: "If any man come unto you and bringeth 
not these words, receive him not into your house, nor bid him 
godspeed, is meant the same words and the the same gospel that 
the apostles used to edify the church and bring souls to Christ. 
This is a strict warning to us, not to add nor take away, so let 
them rule. And again Christ said: "If we keep his sayings we 
are his disciples.' ' In conclusion will say, dear beloved, submit 
yourselves to every ordinance of the New Testament for the Lord's 
sake. 

RECOGNITION OF CHURCHES. 

All churches, congregations and assemblies that do, or are 
willing to do, the sayings of the Bible as it is written, and baptize 
with water in water, and wash feet, and take water for sacrament, 
and do admonish the Lord's Prayer, a prayer above all prayers, 
and are willing to take the Bible as a rule and a guide of his life, 
let it be large or small, the same are our brothers, sisters and moth- 
ers, and we will fellowship them as such. 

To do the will of God is to be good principally to one another. 
Christ says: "He that doeth the will of my father, which is in 
heaven, the same are my brothers, sisters and mothers." And 
again he says : "None shall enter into the kingdom of heaven 
but he that doeth the will of my father, which is in heaven." The 
will of the father is, that we obey his son in all things. So let us 
do that. 

HOW MEMBERS ARE RECEIVED IN THE UNITY CHURCH. 

There are two ways : ist. Those being baptized in the name 
of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and are willing to let their feet 
be washed, in the name of Christ, by the bishop or evangelist, pas- 
tor or elders, and will take water for sacrament instead of wine, 
which is a mocker, can become a member in this Union 

2d. Those that have not been baptized can become members 
by believing the gospel and being baptized with water in water, as 
this appears to have been the only mode of baptism practiced by 
Christ and his apostles, so if we are going to follow them let us 
take them up and do so. We notice* that baptism with water in 
water has been omitted for hundreds of years. It was the opening 
of the gospel dispensation. It came from God, honored by Christ, 
and as it was good enough for Christ and his apostles, we think it 
good enough for us. 

John met him with it at his first coming, so we will go out to 
meet him with it at his second coming. We believe that if it was 
good then, it is good now, for God's works never get old nor 



70 Unity Church Call. 

wear out. We don't believe that Christ would be baptized under 
one mode of baptism and then teach us another, so it is that we 
baptize with water in water. There has been, it seems, three 
changes made in the word of baptism but not in the mode. The 
mode seems to have been with water in water. Moses' words 
were €i in the cloud and in the sea." John the Baptist's were 
t; with water unto repentance." Christ's words, given in his last 
commission, was " in the name of the Father and of the Son and 
of the Holy Ghost." Now you see he ordered a change in the 
words but not in the mode, so we will not change it; neither did 
the apostles re-baptize those that had been baptized in the name 
of Jesus afterwards. But pray that they might receive the 
Holy Ghost, and so we believe that it would be wrong to re-baptize 
any person that has been baptized in the three names of the God- 
head, because we cannot condemn them that have been baptized 
under any mode unless we condemn the words with the mode, and 
that is beyond our power. Therefore the words of Christ would 
make any mode it seems right if did with the desires of the heart to 
please God ; yet there is only one mode taught and practiced by 
him it seems, and we will not have but that one to counterfeit. 
Any person having been baptized in the name of the Father, and 
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and then re-baptized in the 
same names, it seems would be blasphemy, therefore this part of 
the work is omitted by us, for it is the one baptism that we are re- 
quired to have, which is in the name of the Father, of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost, in water with water. 

Of other modes I suppose that if the ministers of the words 
have and do believe, and teach the people to have their heads put 
under the water, and to sit in houses and let them pour or sprinkle 
it upon them, and that they did not have to wash their feet, and 
that they must drink wine for sacrament ; and the people did all 
these things with an intent to please God, then their intentions are 
good it seems, while the deed perhaps is wrong. Then it seems 
that their intentions would justify them before God, but they are 
to seek, search and knock to find the perfect will of God, and 
then do when they know, so they are required to do what they 
know. But God is the same, yesterday and to-day and forever more, 
therefore we will not re-baptize any one that has been baptized in 
his name. Paul did not do it, neither did any of the apostles, and 
we will follow them. 

THE WORD PROBATION. 

A word about probation. Where upon preaching the gospel 
sinners are required to repent at the time that they hear the gospel 
preached, but some think that they cannot do it all at once. I'll 
say to the church if such be the case with some in their churches, 



Unity Church Call. ir 

it should be the duty of the church to take their names and under 
the care of the church to pra> and watch for them and have them 
to repent. Such persons' names are received as penitents to the 
church if they agree to repent, which have no more authority in 
the church than before only the church is required to pray for her 
penitent souls. 

HOW A MEMBER CEASES TO BE A MEMBER. 

When a male or female fails to walk according to the faith of 
the Bible practiced by this church, then they offend the body and 
Christ said, 4 -If the eye or the foot offend thee, pluck it out and 
cast it from thee/' etc. See Matt. 18 ch., 8, 9 vers. 

So it may be said the way out of Christ is to do wrong and 
the way out of the church is to neglect to hear the church which, 
gives one direct way and many circumstantial ways. For the 
apostle says withdraw yourselves from every brother that walkes 
disorderly. 

So you may walk disorderly in many ways, it is for the church, 
to determine. We are ordered to walk upright and any departure 
from this rule is disorderly walk. Now if we will obey our teacher 
we will be found in the church in and after death so may it be. 

THE OFFICES OF THE CHURCH. 

The offices of the church seemingly are four, which were and 
seemingly must be. The first are apostles appointed by Christ to 
make and baptize disciples for the churches. While they were 
doing this those that were made by the apostle murmured because 
their widows were neglected and the apostle told them, look ye 
out seven men full of the Holy Ghost whom I may appoint over 
this business. Then we see the origin of the office of the deacon 
is by the apostle. Then it seems they had writers employed to 
write for them, which is another office which is a circumstantial 
office used by both Christ and his apostles. Also we see the 
churches had a plurality of elders, it seems for their safeguard in 
the world and their spirit's profit, and so do we in this church. 
It seems that these elders possess great power. See what they do 
in James 5 ch., 14 ver. Thus we see four officers, two of which 
is by Christ it seems, the inspired writer and the apostle. Then 
it seems that Christ left. In his church the apostle put in the 
deacons and the church elected the elders and so it all worked 
together for our good, and a church without them to-day is not 
much church. We don't think the man that Christ left and placed 
in the church is the overseer of the church. The writer is a re- 
corder in and for the church : the elders are the eyes for the church 
it seems. The deacons are to serve the church in all temporal 
affairs ; elders in all spiritual affairs. The recorder and the church 
itself and all of its officers are under subjection to its elder, pastor 



12 U?iity Church Call. 

or a bishop or evangelist or whatever he may be called in these 
names. If the church by good authority come in possession of 
either of these then he is an overseer and should be counted 
worthy of double honor and no ill report should be received against 
him save out of the mouths of two or three witnesses. These 
seem to be the leaders and builders of Christ's house. Let us 
hear them as long as they work the works of him that sent them. 
Their work is to preach the gospel and take the oversight of the 
church or churches. They are to administer all of its ordinances 
or cause the same to be done by some ministerial power and seek 
after its wellfare in all things, feed the flock and the lambs upon 
God's word, rightly dividing the truth and doing good every- 
where, but his special care is among the flocks which God has 
made him overseer. His office is the highest office with God 
known on earth among men and must be honored by all who fear 
God, but he must be a man according to I Tim. 3 ch., 1 8 vers. 

Now the work of the elders of the church and the work of the 
recorder and the work of the deacon is all the work of the apostles. 
No doubt then he should be heard. When he is called to serve a 
church and accepts the same he is then by virtue of his office the 
moderator of that church and should be honored as such that he 
may serve the church in peace to himself and satisfaction to all 
around him, but he should do all to the edifying of the body and 
in all cases. If the church can't unite with her pastor they are in 
power to elect whom they want and when they want to. But in 
all cases let the church be careful to what she wants and be careful 
how she deals with the man that is said to be a minister of God's 
word. Deal with them in love and be in harmony with each 
other, for the Scripture says "Children obey your parents in the 
Lord for this is well pleasing in the sight of God." 

The doctrine of the church may be said, is what the church 
practices or believes. We believe the Bible to contain the will of 
God written by men divinely inspired by him for this purpose, 
that men might know verily what to do to please him and be saved 
upon a plan that God himself has laid down for men either to be 
saved or damned by, as it seems God has two plans, one to save 
and the other to damn, as is seen in Christ's last commission : "Go 
ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He 
that believes and is baptized shall be saved and he that believes 
not shall be damned." Mark 16 ch., 15, 16 vers. We further 
believe that he is his own interpreter, and that he has forbidden 
us to take away any of his words or to add any. Rev. 22 ch., 
18, 19 vers. 

So we see God is great and is anxious to save us and knows 
what it takes to save us, so he commands us what to do and we 
will obey him. We believe that there is enough of his will im- 



Unity Church Call. ij 

parted to us to save us upon us obeying his commandments, and 
we again take his commandments as though they were letteis 
mailed to us from God or by his orders to man, fully explaining 
our duty to God and man, so we take it as an exclusive guide 
from this dark world to a brighter, for we see the Scripture saying r 
"But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the 
Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through 
his name." St. John 20 ch., 31 ver. 

And again we think that if we were all dead and Christ dies 
and delivers us from the sting then we should live unto him that 
died for us. We believe he purchased us through his death and 
that we are his sole right property and so we belong to him and 
we are his people and he wants to save his people, therefore he 
gives us his commands in order that the people whom he died for 
might be saved, and bettering our condition we ought to love him 
and keep his commands. From the Acts of Christ in the New 
Testament it don't show that man is much interested about saving 
or about being saved, but that Christ the Son of God is and has 
been the employed agent of God for this purpose, and he being so 
zealous about the matter we can't believe that he would give us a 
book of what to do that we could not understand, so we take it as 
it reads in its common sense of wisdom, so may it be in all of our 
churches. 

DECLARATIONS OF FAITH OF THE SCRIPTURES. 

i st. We believe that the Holy Bible was written by holy men 
of God, to us words and that it is a perfect treasure of his will to 
man, and that it is in itself a complete instruction to him to travel 
by from this earth to heaven or to hell, and that it is without any 
mixture of errors for its matters, and that it reveals the principle 
by which God will judge the world and therefore it is and shall 
remain to the end of the world the true centre of Christian union 
and the supreme standard by which all human conducts, creeds 
and opinions should be tried. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

i st. "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth 
them I'll liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a 
rock." Matt. 7 ch., 24 ver. 

2nd. "And if a man follow me he shall not walk in darkness, 
but shall have the light of life." St. John 8 ch., 12 ver. 

3rd. "For if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in 
your sins." St. John 8 ch. , 24 ver. 

4th. "If a man keep these sayings of mine he will never see 
death." St. John 8 ch.. 57 ver. 

"The words that Jesus Christ has spoken shall judge us in 
the last day." St. John 12 ch., 47, 48 vers. 



Un ity Ch u rch Call. 



THE TRUE GOD. 

2nd. We believe that there is one and only one living and 
true God, an infinite intelligent spirit who so now is Jehovah the 
maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressably 
glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor and confidence 
and love, and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three 
persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and that these 
three are equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct 
but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

ist. "God is a spirit." St. John 4 ch., 24 ver. 

2d. "Through whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most 
high over all the earth." Ps. 83 ch., 18 ver. 

3rd. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of 
the world are clearly seen, being understood by things that are 
made." Rom. 1 ch., 20 ver. 

4th. The love for him. See Mark 12 ch., 30 ver. 

5th. He is worthy. Rev. 4 ch., 11 ver. 

6th. The three persons in the Godhead are united one as is 
seen in Matt. 28 ch., 19 ver. ; St. John 15 ch., 26 ver. ; I Cor. 
12 ch., 46 ver. ; I John 5 ch., 7 ver. 

7th. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have 
eternal life. 

THE FALL OF MAN. 

3rd. We believe that we were created in holiness and under 
the law of our maker and by our own voluntary transgression fell 
from the holy and happy state and in consequence of which all 
mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but by choice, being 
by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, 
positively inclined to evil and therefore under just condemnation 
to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse within ourselves, and 
since that time until the world ends that our defense is and shall 
be to the end of the world in the blood of Christ, and that it is 
our only defense that we now need or can get is to trust in it for 
justification. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

God created man in his own image. Gen. 1 ch., 27 ver. 

And God saw everything that it was good. Gen. 1 ch., 31 ver. 

The woman saw the true sign. By the disobedience of one 
man many are made sinners. See Rom. 5 ch., 19 ver. 

Even so by the free gift many shall be made free. Rom. 5 
ch. , 15-19 ver. 

Christ is meat. St. John 6 ch., 27 ver. For the bread of 
God is he which came down from heaven and giveth life unto the 



Unity Church Call. 15 

world. St. John 6 ch., 33 ver. Christ is the bread of life. St. 
John 6 ch., 35, 48 and 50 vers. A man may eat thereof and not 
die. 51 ver. It is the living bread that a man may eat and not 
die for it is the life of the world. Except ye eat the flesh of the 
son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you. St. John 
6 ch., S3 ver. 

THE WAY OF SALVATION. 

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace 
through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the ap- 
pointment of the father freely took upon him our nature yet with- 
out sin. Honored the divine law by his personal obedience, and 
by his death made a full atonement for our sins. That having 
risen from the dead he is now enthroned in honor, uniting in his 
wonderful person the tenderest sympathy with divine affection. 
He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and 
an all-sufficient savior, and his instruction the only safe guide for 
all mankind. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

Eph. 2 ch., s ver. By grace ye are saved. Matt. 18 ch., 
11 ver. ; I John 4 ch., 10 ver. ; I Cor. 3 ch., 5-7 vers. ; Acts 
15 ch. , 1 1 ver. 

St. John 3 ch., 16 ver. For God so loved the world that he 
gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should 
not perish but have everlasting life. St. John 1 ch., 1-14 vers. ; 
Heb. 4 ch., 12, 14 and 24 vers. 

Phil. 2 ch. ,6,7 vers. Who being in the form of God thought 
it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no repu- 
tation and took upon himself the form of a servant and was made 
in the likeness of men. Heb. 2 ch., 9-14 vers. ; II Cor. 5 ch., 
20, 21 vers. 

Isa. 42 ch., 21 ver. The Lord is well pleased for his right- 
eousness sake, will magnify the law and make it honorable. Phil. 
2 ch., 8 ver. ; Gal. 4 ch., 4, 5 vers. ; Rom. 3 ch., 21 ver. 

Isa. 53 ch., 45 ver. He was wounded for our transgressions, 
bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon 
him and with his stripes we are healed. Matt. 20 ch., 28 ver. ; 
Rom. 4 ch., 25 ver. 

Heb. 1 ch., 8 ver. Unto the son he saith thy throne oh God 
is forever and ever. Heb. 8 ch. ; I Cor. 3 ch., 1-4 vers. 

Heb. 7 ch., 25 ver. Therefore he is able also to save them to 
the uttermost that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to 
make intercession for them. Col. 2 ch. , 9 ver. In him dwelleth 
all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 

Heb. 20 ch., 18 ver. In that he himself hath suffered being 
tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. Heb. 7 ch., 
26 ver. ; Ps. 89 ch., 19 ver. ; Ps. 45. 



i6 



Un it v Ch u rch Call. 



JUSTIFICATION. 

We believe that the great gospel blessings which Christ 
secures to such as believe in him is justification. That justification 
includes the pardon of sin. and the promise of eternal life are 
principles of righteousness which we have done, but solely through 
faith in the redeemer's blood. By nurture of which faith is our 
perfect righteousness freely imputed to us of God. That it brings 
us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and 
secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. 

PLACES IX THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

St. John- i ch.. 1 6 ver. Of his fulness have all we received. 
Eph. 3 ch. . 8 ver. 

Acts 13 ch.. 39 ver. By him all that believe are justified 
from all things. Isa. 3 ch.. n. 12 vers. : Rom. 8 ch.. 7 ver. 

Rom, 5 ch.. 9 ver. Being justified by his blood we shall be 
free from wrath through him. Zach. 13 ch.. 1 ver. : Matt. 9 ch.. 
6 ver. ; Acts 10 ch.. 43 ver. 

They which received the abundance of grace and of the gift 
of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ. Titus 3 
ch.. 5. 6 vers. : I Peter 3 ch.. 7 ver. : I John 2 ch.. 25 ver. : 
Rom. 5 ch. . 21 ver. 

Rom. 4 ch.. 45 ver. Now to him that worketh is the reward 
not reckoned of grace, but of debts. But to them that worketh 
not. but believeth on him that justiheth the ungodly, his faith is 
counted for righteousness. Rom. 5 ch.. 21 ver.; 6:23; Phil. 
3 ch.. 7-9 vers. 

Rom. 5 ch.. 12 ver. Being justified by faith we have peace 
with God through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom we also assess 
by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of 
the grace of God. Rom. 5 ch.. 3 ver. We glory in tribulations 
also. Rom. 5 ch., 11 ver. We also joy in God. I Cor. 1 ch.. 
30. 31 vers; Matt. 6 ch.. 33 ver. : I Tim. 4 ch.. 8 ver. 

THE FREEXESS OF SALVATION. 

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all 
by the gospel : that it is the duty of all to accept it after being 
warned in it of its goodness and its danger on the other hand by a 
cordial, penitent and obedient faith. And that nothing prevents 
the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent 
depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel. Which rejection 
involves him in an aggravated condemnation, but to accept justifies 
him. If in faith and penitent frees him from all sins upon being 
baptized. 

PLACES IX THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

Isa. 55 ch.. 1 ver. Ho. every one that thirsteth come ye to 

the waurs of life, freely take. 



Unity Church Call. ij 

Rom. 1 6 ch.. 26 ver. The gospel according to the com- 
mandment of the everlasting God made known to all nations for 
the obedience of faith. Markich., 15 ver. ; Rom. ich., 15-17 vers. 

St. John 5 ch., 40 ver. Ye will not come to me that ye 
might have life. Matt. 23 ch., 37 ver.; Rom. 9 ch., 32 ver.; 
Prov. 1 ch., 24 ver. ; Acts 13 ch., 46 ver. 

St. John 3 ch., 19 ver. And this is the condemnation that 
light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than 
light because their deeds are evil. Matt. 11 ch , 20 ver. ; Luke 
19 ch., 27 ver. ; II Thess. 1 ch., 8 ver. 

GRACE IN REGENERATION. 

We believe that in order to be saved sinners must repent, 
confess and be baptized, and that believing that Jesus is the Christ 
and in trusting in the words of Christ, believe in and being bap- 
tized is born of water and of the spirit. And that repentance is to 
lay down wrong and take up right, And that regeneration consists 
in giving a holy disposition to the mind, and that it is affected in 
a measure above our comprehension by the power of the Holy 
Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary 
obedience to the gospel, and that its proper evidence appears in 
the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life, and 
that the only way we know that we know God is when we keep his 
commandments and that being willing to obey Christ and his 
words in all things, not knowing any other way or plan is conversion 
and that upon doing the same without wavering is the way we be- 
come as little children, in knowing nothing only as they are taught 
by their parents and that his hope and trust should be in the words 
of promise made by Christ in the New Testament, and after form- 
ing an idea of the above, is time to begin in prayer to the God of 
his salvation and that it is useless before this, and that it is easier 
to exercise faith in Christ than it is to exercise faith in an earthly 
friend or things and that it is done in the same way of the mind 
and heart that they do any other thing with intent to do that, and 
all sinners who do believe in the above statement are entitled 10 
baptism in water with water for to receive the remission of their 
sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy 
Ghost, which is we believe the full understanding of his words, so 
may it be and the believing that Jesus is the Christ is the conclu- 
sion of the whole matter. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the 
Christ is born of God. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

Eph. 2 ch., 8 ver. By grace ye are saved through faith and 
that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God. 

They were pricked in their hearts and said, men and brethren 
what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them repent and be bap- 



1 8 Unity Church Call. 

tized every one of you for the remission of your sins. Acts 16 
ch., 30, 31 vers. 

St. John 3 ch., 14, 15 vers. As Moses lifted up the serpent 
in the wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up that 
whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

St. John 1 ch.. 13 ver. Which was born not of blood nor of 
the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. James 1 
ch., 16-18 vers. ; I Cor. 1 ch., 30 ver. ; Phil. 2 ch., 13 ver. ; I 
John 5 ch., 1 ver. ; Acts 17 ch., 30, 31 vers. 

And the time of this ignorance God winked at but now com- 
mandeth all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed 
a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that 
man whom he has ordained, whereof he has given assurance unto 
all men and that he has raised him from the dead. 

Rom., 7 ch., 25 ver. I thank God through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but 
with the flesh the law of sin. 

Luke, 18 ch., 13 ver. The publican smote upon his breast 
saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner. Luke, 15 ch., 18-27 
vers. : James, 4 ch., 7-10 vers. ; II Cor., 7 ch., 11 ver. : Rom., 
10 ch.. 12. 13 ver. : Ps., 51 ch., 5 ver. 

Hereby know we that we knowed him if we keep his com- 
mandments. He that sayeth I know him and keepeth not his 
commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. St. John. 
14 ch.. 15 ver. If ye love me keep my commandments. If a 
man love me he will keep my words, and my father will love him. 
and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. 

REPENTANCE AND FAITH. 

We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and 
also inseparable graces, written in our souls by the regenerating 
spirit of God, whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt's dan- 
gers, helplessness, and the way of salvation by Christ. We turn to 
God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication, for 
mercy. At the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ's 
words as his only guide : under it dwell faith without fear of dan- 
ger of being lost, knowing that Jesus is the only life of the soul. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

Mark. 1 ch., 15 ver. Repent ye and believe the gospel. 
Acts, 11 ch.. 18 ver. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted 
repentance unto life. Ephes., 2 ch.. 8 ver. By grace we are 
saved through faith and not of yourselves : it is the gift of God. 
I John. 5 ch., 1 ver. Whosover believeth that Jesus is the Christ 
is born of God. 

St. John, 6 ch.. 8 ver. He will reprove the world of sin and 
righteousness, and of judgment. Acts, 2 ch.. 37. 38 ver. They 



Unity Church Call. ig 

were pricked in their hearts and said men and brethren, what shall 
we do? Then Peter said unto them ^repent and be baptized every 
one of you. in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your 
sins." Acts. 1 6 ch., 30. 31 vers. 

Luke. 18 ch. . 13 ver. And the publican smote upon his 
breast saying "God be merciful to me a sinner." Luke. 15 ch., 
18-21 vers. : James. 4 ch.. 7-10 vers. : II Cor.. 7 ch.. 11 ver. ; 
Rom. 10 ch.. 12. 13 vers. : Ps., 51 ch. 

4th. Rom.. 10 ch.. 9. 11 vers: "If thou shall confess with 
thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thy heart that God 
has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Acts. 22 ch.. 
23 ver.; Heb., 5 ch., 14 ver; Ps., 26 ch. ; Heb.. 1 ch.. 8 ver. ; 
S ch.. 25 ver; II Tim.. 1 ch.. 12 ver. 

god's purpose of grace. 

1 st. We believe that the election is the eternal purpose of 
God according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies and 
saves sinners, that being perfectly consistent the free agency of 
man. It comprehends all the means in connection with the end. 

2d. That it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign 
goodness, being infinitely free. wise, holy and unchangeable. 

3d. That it utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility 
and love, prayer and praise and trust in God's words. 

AN ACTUAL IMITATION OF HIS FREE MERCY. 

1st. That it encourages the use of means from the highest 
degree. 

2d. That it may be ascertained by its effects and all who truly 
believe the gospel. 

3d. That it is the foundation of Christian assurance. 

4th. And to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands 
and deserves the utmost diligence toward his words and his services. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

1st. II Tim.. 1 ch.. 8, 9 vers.: --Be not thou therefore 
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me. his prisoner, but 
be thou partaker of the affliction of the gospel according to the 
power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling 
in Christ." Eph. 1 ch.. 3-5. 6 vers. ; St. John. 5 ch.. 16 ver. : I 
John. 4 ch., 17 ver. ; Hos.. 1 ch.. 29 vers. 

2d. Thess.. 2 ch.. 13-14. vers.: "But we are bound to 
give thanks always to God who has saved us." Acts, 13 ch., 1 : 
8 vers. ; St. John, 10 ch., 16 ver. ; Mait. . 20 ch.. 16 ver. ; Acts, 
15 ch., 14 ver. 

3d. Exe.. 33 ch.. 18-19, and Moses said: -T beseech thee 
show me thy glory." and he said: "I'll cause all my goodness." 
Matt.. 20 ch.. 15 ver. -Is it not lawful for me to do what I 



20 Unity Church Call. 

please with my own." Eph., i ch., n ver. ; Rom., 9 ch., 23-4 
vers. ; Jer., 31 ch., 3 ver. ; Rom., 11 ch., 28-29 vers. ; James 1 
ch., 1 7-18 vers. 

4th. II Tim., 1 ch., 9 ver.; Rom., 11 ch., 32, 36 vers.; 
I Cor. ,4 ch., 7 ver. : "For he maketh thee to differ from another. " 

I Cor., 1 ch., 26, 31 vers. 

5th. II Tim., 2 ch., 10 ver.: "I endure all things for the 
elect sake." I Cor., 9 ch., 22 ver.: "I am made all things to 
Christ." 

6th. I Thess., 1 ch., 4, 10 vers.: "Knowing, brethren," 

etc. 

7th. Rom., 8 ch., 28, 30 ver.: "Moreover, whom he did 
predestinate," etc. Isa., 62 ch., 16 ver.; Rom., 1 ch,, 29 ver. 

II Peter, 1 ch., 10- 11 vers. : Therefore, the rather brethren, give 
diligence to make your calling 3n election sure," etc. Phil., 3 
ch., 12 vers. ; Heb., 6 ch., n ver. 

SANCTIFICATION. 

1 st. We believe that sanctification is the process by which, 
according to the will of God we are made partakers of his holiness 
that it is a progressive work. 

2d. That it is begun in regeneration. 

3d. And that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the 
presence and power of the spirit, the secular and comforter. 

4th. In the continued use of the appointed means, ye spe- 
cially the word of God, self-examination and self-denial watchful- 
ness and prayer. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

1st. I Thess., 4 ch., 3 ver.: "For this is the will of God, 
even your sanctification." I Thess., 5 ch., 23 ver.: "And the 
very God of peace sanctify you, wholly." I Cor., 7 ch., 1 ver. ; 
Eph., 1 ch., 4 ver. 

2d. Prov., 4 ch., 18 ver.: "The path of the just is as a 
shining light which shineth more and more unto a perfect day." 
II Cor., 3 ch., 18 ver. ; Heb., 6 ch., 1 ver. ; II Peter, 1 ch., 5- 
6, 8 vers. ; Phil., 3 ch., 12, 16 vers. 

3d. St. John, 2 ch., 27 ver.: "If ye know that God is 
righteous ye know that every one that doeth righteous is born of 
him." "Rom., 8 ch., 5 ver. : "They that are after the flesh do 
mind things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit, the 
things of the spirit." St. John, 3 ch., 6 ver. ; Phil., 1 ch., 9, n 
vers.; Eph., 1 ch., i3~i4ver. 

4th. Phil., 2 ch., 13 ver. : "Work out thine own salvation 
with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you both to 
will and to do of his good pleasure. Eph., 4ch., 11-12 vers. I 
Peter. 2 ch., 2 ver. ; II Peter, 3 ch., 18 ver. ; II Cor., 13 ch., 



U?iity Church CalL 21 

5 ver, ; Luke, 11 ch., 35 ver. ; 9 ch., 23 ver. ; Matt., 26 ch., 41 
ver. ; Eph.. 6 ch., 18 ver. 

THE PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS. 

i St.. We believe that such only are real believers as endure 
unto the end that their perseverance, attachments to Christ is the 
ground work which distinguishes them from superficial profession. 

2d. That a special providence watches over their welfare. 

3d. And they are kept by the power of God through faith 
unto salvation. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

1st. I John, 8 ch., 3 ver. : "Then said Jesus, if ye continue 
in my words, then ye are my disciples indeed." I John, 2 ch., 
27-28 vers. ; 3,9,5, 18. I John, 2 ch., 7 ver. : "They went out 
from in but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they 
would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out that 
it might be made manifest that they were not all of us." St. 
John, 13 ch., 18 ver. ; Matt., 13 ch., 20-21 vers. ; John, 6 ch., 
66, 69; Jobe, 17 ch., 9 ver. 

2d. Rom., 8 ch., 28 ver.: "And we know that all things 
work together for good unto them that love God to them who own 
the call according to his purpose." Matt-, 6 ch., 30, 33 vers. ; 
Jer., 32 ch., 40 ver. ; Ps., 1 ch., 21 ver. ; 39 ch., 1 ver. ; 11 ch., 
12 ver. 

3d. Phil., 1 ch., 6 ver.: "He who hath began a good in 
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil., 2 ch., 
12-13 vers. ; Judges, 24 ch., 25 ver. ; Heb., 1 ch., 14 ver. ; II 
Kings, 6 ch., 16 ver. ; Heb., 13 ch., 5 ver.; I John, 4 ch., 4 
ver. 

OF THE HARMONY OF THE LAW AND GOSPEL. 

i st. We believe that the law of God is the eternal and un- 
changeable rule of his moral government, that it is holy, just and 
good. 

2d. And the inabilities which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen 
men to fulfill its precepts arise entirely from their love of sin. 

3d. To deliver them from which and to restore them through 
a mediatorial to unfeigned obedience to the holy law is one great 
end of the gospel and of the means of grace connected with the 
establishment of the visible church. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

i. Rom., 3 ch., 31 ver.: "Do we make void the law 
through faith? God forbid. Yea, we establish the law." Matt., 
5 ch., 17 ver. ; Luke, 16 ch., 17 ver. ; Rom., 3 ch., 20 ver. ; 4 
ch., 15 ver. 

II Rom., 7 ch., 12 ver.: "The law is holy and the command- 



22 Unity Church Call. 

ments are holy and just and good. Rom., 7 ch., 7, 14 ch., 22 
ver. ; Gal., 3 ch., 21 ver. ; Ps., 1 ch., 2 ver. 

3d. Rom., 8 ch., 24 ver. ; Rom., 8 ch., 7-8 vers.: "Car- 
nal mind is an enemy against God, for it is not subject to the law 
of God, neither indeed can be so then they that are in the flesh 
cannot please God. Josh., 24 ch., 19 ver. ; Jer., 13 ch., 23 ver. : 
John, 6 ch. , 44 ver. 

4th. Rom., 8 ch., 24 ver.: "For the law of life in Christ 
Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death for what the 
law could not do in that it was weak, God sending his own Son 
in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh 
that righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not 
after the flesh but after the spirit." Rom., 10 ch., 4 ver.; II 
Tim., 1 ch., 5 ver. ; Heb., 8 ch., 10 ver. ; Judges, 20 ch., 21 
ver. ; Heb., 12 ch., 14 ver. ; Matt., 16 ch., 17-18 vers. ; I Cor.. 
1 2 ch. , 28 ver. 

OF A GOSPEL CHURCH. 

1 st. We believe that a visible church of Christ consists of 
two or more baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith 
and fellowship of the gospel. 

2d. Obtaining the ordinances of Christ. 

3d. And are governed by his laws. 

4th. And exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested 
in them by his word. 

5th. And that its officers are four bishops or pastors and dea- 
cons whose qualification is hindered by no social or moral defect 
and is confined to I Tim., 3 ch., 1-14 vers. 

6th. And that the elders exist in the church and by the 
church, and used as stated in James 5, 14, and that the clerks are 
collective agency officers, and that they and the church of God 
are by him made under subjection to the man of God, which is 
the bishop or pastor or evangelist or apostle or teachers. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

i st. I Cor., 11 ch., 13 ver. : Paul unto the church of God 
which is at Corinth : Is Christ divine? Was Paul crucified for you? 
Were you baptized in the name of Paul? Matt., 18 ch., 17 ver. ; 
Acts, 5 ch., 11 ver. ; 8:1: 11:31; I Cor., 4 ch., 17 ver. ; 14 : 
28 ; III John, 9 ch. ; I Tim., 3 ch., 5 ver. 

2d. Acts, 2 ch., 41-42: t; Then they that gladly received 
his word were baptized and the same day there was added to them 
about three thousand souls." II Cor., 8 ch., 5 ver.: 4i They 
first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of 
God." Acts, 2 ch.. 47 ver. ; I Cor.. 5 ch., 12-13 ver * 

3d. I Cor., 11 ch., 2 ver.: 4 -Now I praise you not breth- 
ren." IIThess., 3 ch., 6 ver.: Rom.. 16 ch., 17*20 vers.: I 



Unity Church CalL 23 

Cor.. 11 ch., 23 ver. ; Matt., 8 ch., 15-20 vers. ; I Cor., 2 ch.. 7 
ver. ; I Cor.. 4 ch., 11 ver. 

4th. Matt., 28 ch., 19-20 vers: "Teaching thee to observe 
all things whatsoever I have commanded you." St. John, 14 ch.. 
15:12; II John, 4 ch., 21 ver.; St. John, 14 ch., 20 ver.; I 
Thess., 4 ch., 2 ver. ; II John, 6 ch. 

5th. Eph., 4th ch., 7 ver. : "Unto every one of us is given 
grace." I Cor., 14 ch., 12 : "Search that ye may excel." Phil.. 
1 ch., 27 ver. : "That I may hear of you." I Cor., 12 ch., 14 
ver. 

6th. Phil., 1 ch.. 1 ver.: "With bishops and deacons." 
Acts, 14 ch., 23 ver., 15:22; I Tim., 3 ch., 2 ver. ; Titus, 1 ch. ; 
Jer., 5:14. 

ELDERS OF THE CHURCH. 

7th. St. John, i7ch., 14 ver. : "I have given them thy word. 
They are not of the word." "As thou has sent me." Eph., 4 
ch., 11-12 vers.: "Give some apostle." Jer., 3 ch., 15 ver.: 
"Give your pastor according to my heart which shall teach you." 

BAPTISM, FOOT WASHING AND THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

i st. We believe that a Christian baptism is the same baptism 
that Christ and his apostles were baptized unto, which is John the 
Baptist mode, that was sent from heaven by John for Christ and 
as all men are to follow Christ externally and internally, which 
would pass the baptism to us honored by Christ, followed by his 
apostles, and that it is with water in water in the name of the Father 
and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, according to the revised 
version of the Bible, in Matt., 3 ch., 6 ver. 

2d. To show that the believer is a soldier of the cross and 
a follower of the Lamb of God, he must follow him in baptism. 
Matt., 20 ch., 23 ver. ; Mark, 10, 38-9. 

3d. And in his death to sins, and that the so baptized be- 
liever must, after being baptized, allow his feet to be washed and 
that without it are rejected in the church of God. 

4th. That they should be given a piece of unleavened bread 
to represent the body of Christ, and a swallow of clear water to 
represent the power and strength of the blood of Christ, and the 
believer hath then put on the whole armour of God and not until 
then. Of the way we baptize is, when the candidate comes into 
the water to the minister or elder, kneeling upon his knees for to 
be baptized of him in the water and then the minister or elder 
should perform the same by applying the water to the candidate's 
head first and not the candidate to the water, after he has caused 
the body to be immersed in the water by saying to the candidate, 
kneel to the command of God, my brother or sister and be bap- 
tized as we believe Christ was. After he has done this, then the 



2 ^ Unity Church Call. 

minister should say, in the name of the Father and of the Son and 
of the Holy Ghost, I will baptize my brother or sister. 

Then the water should be applied immediately, in response 
then say "Amen!" then forthwith raise or cause the candidate to 
be raised straightway up out of the water and allowed to go or be 
carried ashore by some one helping in the matter. For baptizing 
may provide some cup or vessel of some kind that should be used 
to convey the water in baptism. If neither is provided, the min- 
ister may do it by using what he can get up in his two hands to- 
gether. 

Notice. — the water should be put or poured upon the can- 
didate's head, and upon raising the candidate, say unto him or 
her. rise up out of the water, my brother or sister, and go your 
way and may the God of peace go with you. So may it be as 
this one go let another come, if there be any. If there is none 
the appointments are put out and the congregation dismissed. 

Notice. — In baptizing the water should be deep enough to 
contain the principal part of the body. For this cause, John 
changed his place of baptism in Enon, near Salem, because there 
was much water there, but it could be done in water only knee 
deep we think, would do no wrong, but where the water is deep 
enough to contain the body, it enables the candidate to rise up 
straightway out of the water, as did Christ when he was baptized. 

We quote the following passage of Scripture on this subject: 
Matt., 3:15: '-Thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness ;" 
28 ch., 19 ver. : '-baptizing them in the name of the Father and 
of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." 

2d. Matt., 16 ch., 24 ver. : "Let him take up his cross." etc. 

3d. Rom., 6 ch., 4 ver.: "Therefore, we are buried with 
him by baptism." Cor.. 2 ch. . 12 ver.; I Pet., 3 ch., 20-21 
vers. : St. John. 13 ch.. 8 ver. : "If I wash thee not. thou hast no 
part with me." 

4th. Matt., 26 ch., 26 ver.: "Breaking and;" Matt., 10 
ch., 42 ver. : Eph.. 6 ch.. 11 ver. : "Put on," etc. ; 15th ver. : 
-•Your feet shod." etc. 

THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. 

i st. We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's 
day, or is accepted as such, and Christian Sabbath, and is to be 
kept sacred to religious purposes ; by abstaining from all secular 
labor and sinful recreation ; by the devout observance of all the 
means of peace, both private and public ; by preparation for that 
rest that remaineth to the people of God, and that people of God 
should congregate themselves in some consecrated place designed 
for worship of God, and there meet to hear the word of God. and 
prayer and praise should be given to his name on these holy days as 
they come. 



U n ity Church Cal I. 



25 



PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

Acts, 20 ch., 7 ver. : "On the first day of the week when the 
disciples came together to break bread Paul preached to them. 
Gen., 2 ch., 3 ver. ; Coll., 2 ch., 16 ver. ; Mark, 2 ch., 27 ver. ; 
St. John, 20 ch., 19 ver.; I Cor., 16 ch., 12 ver.; 2 Rev., 10 
ch., 12 ver. : "I was in the spirit on the Lord's day." Ps., 118, 
24 ver. : "This is the day which the Lord has made. We will be 
glad and rejoice in it. 

Isa. , 58 ch., 13-14 vers. : "If thou turn away from the Sab- 
bath from doing thine own," etc. Isa., 56 ch., 28 ver. 

Ps., 18, 15 ver.: "The voice of rejoicing and salvation is 
in the temple of the righteous." 

Heb., 10 ch., 24-25 vers. : "Not forsaken, the assembling of 
yourselves together as the manner of some is." 

Acts, 11 ch., 26 ver. : "Whole year they assemble themselves 
with the church and taught much people." 

Acts, 13 ch., 44 ver. : "And the next Sabbath day came al- 
most the whole city together to hear the word of God." Luke, 
19 ch., 3 ver. ; Ex., 46 ch., 3 ver. ; Luke, 4 ch., 16 ver. ; Acts, 
17 ch., 23 ver.; Ps., 25 ch.,8 ver.; Ps., 87:3 ver.; Heb., 4 
ch., 8, 11 : "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest." 

CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

We believe that civil government is a divine appointment for 
the interest and good order of human society. And that magistrates 
are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed. Ex- 
cept only in things opposed to the will of our maker and redeemer 
Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of Lords, and the King of 
Kings. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

Rom., 13 ch., 1-7 vers. The powers that be are ordained of 
God, for rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. 
Deut., 16 ch., 18 ver. ; II Sam., 23 ch., 3 ver. ; Ex., 18 ch., 
23 ver. ; Jer., 30 ch., 21 ver. 

Matt., 22 ch., 21 ver. Render therefore unto Caesar the 
things that be Caesar's, and unto God the things that be God's. 
Titus, 3 ch. , 1 ver. ; I Peter, 2 ch. , 13 ver. ; I Tim. , 2 ch. , 1-8 vers. 

Acts., 5 ch., 29 ver. We ought to obey God rather than 
man. Matt., 10 ch., 28 ver. Fear not them that kill the body, 
but are not able to kill the soul. Dan., 3 ch., 15-18 vers. ; 6 ch., 
7-10 vers. ; Acts, 4 ch., 18-20 vers. 

Matt., 23 ch., 10 ver. Ye have one master, even Christ. 
Rom., 14 ch., 4 ver. Who art thou that judgest another man's 
servant. Rev., 19 ch., 16 ver. And he has on his vesture and 
on his thigh a name written kings and lords of lords. Ps. 72 ch., 
11 ver. ; Ps., 2 ch. ; Rom., 14 ch., 9-13 vers. 



26 



Unity Church Call, 



THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. 

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference be- 
tween the righteous and the wicked, and that such only as through 
faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by 
the spirit of our God. are truly righteous in his esteem. While all 
such as continue in impenitence and unbelief, are in his sight 
wicked and under the curse for unbelief and penitence. And that 
this distinction holds good now and will among men, now and 
after death. 

PLACES IN THE BIBLE WHERE TAUGHT. 

Mai., 3 ch., 1 8 ver. Ye shall discern between the righteous 
and the wicked ; between him that serveth God and him that 
serveth him not. Prov., 12 ch., 26 ver.; Isa., 5 ch., 20 ver. : 
Gen.. 18 ch., 23 ver. ; Jer. , 15 ch., 19 ver. ; Acts, 10 ch., 34-35 
vers. : Rom., 6 ch., 16 ver. 

Rom., 2 ch., 17 ver. The just shall live by faith. Rom.. 
7 ch.. 6 ver. But now we are delivered from the law, that being 
dead wherein we were held ; that we should serve in newness of 
spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. I John, 2 ch., 29 ver. 
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth 
righteous is born of him. I John, 3 ch., 7 ver. ; Rom., 6 ch.. 
18-23 vers.; I Cor. , 11 ch., 32 ver.; 6 ch., 7 ver. ; Prov., 11 
ch., 31 ver."; I Peter, 4 ch., 17, 18 vers. 

I John, 5 ch., 19 ver. And we know that we are of God, and 
the whole world lieth in wickedness. Gal., 3 ch., 10 ver. As 
many as are of the words of the law, are under the law. St. John. 
3 ch., 36 ver. ; Isa., 57 ch., 21 ver. : Ps.. 10 ch., 4 ver. ; Isa.. 
55 ch., 67 ver. 

Prov., 14 ch., 32 ver. The wicked is driven away in his 
wickedness ; but the righteous hath hope in his death. See also 
the example of the rich man and Lazarus. 

Luke, 16 ch., 20 ver. Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy 
good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things ; but now he is com- 
forted, and thou art tormented. St. John, 8 ch., 21-24 vers. : 
Prov., 10 ch. . 24 ver. ; Luke, 12 ch. . 45 ver. ; 9 ch., 23-26 vers. 
St. John, 12 ch.. 25, 26 vers. ; Lev., 3 ch.. 17 ver. ; Matt., 13 
ch. , 14 ver. 

CHURCHES COVENANT. 

Having been led as we trust by the Holy Spirit to the Holy 
Word and ways of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, and a confes- 
sion of faith in him and his words and have been baptized in his 
name, we do now in the presence of almighty God and this assem- 
bly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another 
as one body in Christ. We engage therefore by the aid of the 
Holy Spirit to work together in Christian love, to engage in the 
work for the advancement of this church in knowledge and holiness 



Unity Church Call. 27 

and comfort, to promote its prosperity and spirituality, to sustain 
its worships, ordinances, discipline and doctrine, to contribute 
cheerfully an i regularly to the support of the minister, the ex- 
penses of the church, the relief of the poor and the universal 
spread of the gospel through all nations. We also engage to main- 
tain family and secret devotion, to religiously educate our children, 
to seek the salvation of sinners far and near, to walk circumspectly 
in the world, to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engage- 
ments, exemplary in our deportment, to avoid all titling and all 
backbiting and excessive anger, to abstain from the sale and use 
of all intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in our 
efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior. We further engage 
to watch over one another in brotherly love, to remember each 
other in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and distress, cultivate 
Christian sympathy in dealings and courteous reconciliation, and 
mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure them without delay. 
We furthermore engage that when removing from this place we 
will as soon as possible unite ourselves in a church of this union 
or organize one if there is none, so that we can carry out the spirit 
of this covenant and the principle of God's words. Now all kneel 
and unite in the Lord's prayer found in Matt., 6 ch., 9-14 vers. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE GOSPEL. 

Ordinances of the church it seems are three. The first is 
baptism, the second is foot-washing and the third is the Lord's 
Supper. The head of the church is Christ and he is the instituter 
of his own ordinance in his church, and we are to keep the ordi- 
nances as he hath given them to us. He made and baptized more 
disciples than John in his mission. After baptism he washed the 
baptized ones' feet and commanded them to wash one another's 
feet. After which he gave them to feast at his holy supper and 
commanded them to take it to show his death until he comes again* 
This was truly instructed by Christ. After this came out from him 
this great commission: Go ye into all the world and preach the 
gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall 
be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. The gospel 
may be said is whatever Christ says. Mark, 16 ch., 15, 16 vers. 
Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them 
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo. 
I am with you always even unto the end of the world. Amen. 
Thus it seems that if we teach those baptized ones to observe all 
things that he has commanded us, that he will be with us always 
even unto the end of the world. This is what it takes to keep him 
with us. Matt., 28 ch., 19, 20 vers. 



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Unity Church Call. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE HOLY BAPTISM. 

In answer to the oft repeated question of what baptism is, it 
miy be said that baptism is an application of water to the believer, 
in water and that upon his head by a minister of the gospel in the 
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Our 
reason for baptizing with water in water is because we have found 
out that according to the reading of the Scriptures that Christ was 
so baptized and followed by all of his disciples, and we want to 
get behind him and follow him in baptism. We see no other cause 
for Christ to be baptized only to show us how it should be done, 
because he was the son of God without it, and the baptism is a 
part of the adoption of sons for us and for all that will believe in 
the only begotten son of God. To believe in the only begotten 
son of God is to believe in what he said and done and as he was 
baptized this way we believe it, and to reject this baptism we 
fear that it will displease him and the Father. It displeased them 
once you will see in Luke, 7 ch., 29, 30 vers. 

And it is the baptism in the New Testament. There has been 
no other sent nor taught in the New Testament, saving the Holy 
Ghost baptism. It is not that we love this mode of baptism but it 
is because it is sent to us from God through Christ, and as we 
could not believe that Christ our Savior would be baptized unto one 
mode of baptism that we know he was baptized unto and then 
teach us to be baptized unto one that we don't know of. For he 
said, I am the way, the truth and the light, and he that folio weth 
him should not walk in darkness but should have the light of life, 
and so we will follow him expecting the promise. 

A question to the public is this. We are commanded in Eph. 
4 ch., 5 ver., One Lord, one faith, one baptism. What baptism 
should be taught to be the one? 

My answer is the Holy Ghost baptism and that external bap- 
tism is with water in water as we think. If it means the same 
Lord it means the same faith they had and if the faith the same 
baptism that the apostles had in him. 

I think it is now time for people to quit studying so hard to 
prove themselves right and devote more time to prove Christ to be 
right, and we as followers of the righteous son. Another word 
about this question and then we will take down the Bible on the 
world for our defense, is that we all are taught in the English lan- 
guage and the Bible is in English. And if so we ought to under- 
stand what it says, but if we can't understand it as it is we are yet 
in darkness without a light, but if we and the language are firmly 
with means to apply the stated article in a word alleged thereto, etc. 



Unity Church Call. 



2Q 



WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT BAPTISM. 

God sent it by John. St. John i ch., 33 ver. 

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be 
baptized of him. Matt. 3 ch., 13 ver. John forbid him. 3:14. 
Jesus answered and said unto him. Suffer it to be so now. Then 
he suffered him. Matt. 3 ch., 15 ver. 

N. B. Christ said thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteous- 
ness. Which means that mode of baptism becomes the whole 
Christian family to fulfill all righteousness and so may it be. 

John said he did it with water. Matt. . 3 ch. « n ver. : St. 
John, 1 ch., 26-31 vers.; Luke, 3 ch., 16 ver.; Mark, 1 ch. , 
8 ver. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his 
death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. 

It appears that the baptism of Christ was in the water, with, 
water, for the Scripture says: '-Jesus, when he was baptized, went 
up straightway out of the water;" and to ascend straightway up out 
of the water would put a man on his knees in the water. Matt. . 3 
ch. , 16 ver. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straight- 
way out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, 
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting 
upon him: and. lo. a voice from heaven, saying, this is my be- 
loved son in whom I am well pleased. Thus you see it pleases 
God well for Christ to accept of the baptism sent him. See Acts, 
8 ch., 38 ver. What we are baptized for. Acts, 2 ch.., 37. 38 
vers. When and who to baptize. Acts, 2 ch., 41 ver. What we 
hope the world will see in this matter is, there is no change in the 
mode but m the words. It appears that the words have been 
changed three times, but not the mode ; so thus you see Moses' 
words were in the clouds and in the sea. John's words were, with 
water unto repentance. The words of Christ now are. in the name 
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, the words 
of the baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire that John was 
pointing out to us in his baptism. Matt., 3 ch., 12 ver. ; Matt.. 
1 ch.. 8 ver. ; Luke. 3 ch. . 16 ver. ; St. John. 1 ch., 33 ver. In 
this we see that the words John did use and himself did decrease, 
but the mode is yet. Christ honored the mode of his father's, not 
John's ; and after Christ came and was baptized, and being greater 
than John, all must now be baptized in the name of Christ to re- 
ceive the Holy Ghost, as said in Revelations, that he is worthy. 

Peter, on the day of Penticost, said to them : Be baptized 
every one of you, in the name of Jesus, for the remission of sin. 
Likewise the Savior in his last commission commanded them. He 
did not say change the mode, it don't appear yet: but the words 
are. as he was particular to say, baptizing them in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 

Let us not have so much fighting about this water baptism for 



JO Unity Church Call, 

the Lord's sake, but allow us to say this to the world, that there 
was not nor ever will be, according to the Scripture, many souls 
saved by water, and we think that the eight souls that were saved 
by water were saved by getting in the ark and keeping their heads 
above the water, and we will try and do the same. See I Peter. 
3 ch., 20, 21 vers. 

What it is, 22 etc. And all the people that were outside of 
the ark, and thought that they were the most wiser got their heads 
under the water and were drowned. So we will endeavor to get 
in the ark and keep our heads above the water, not to please our- 
selves, but him that sent us. Amen. 

THE FOOTWASHING HOW AND WHEN. 

The apostles did not write much about it. It seems that Je- 
sus himself esteemed it so highly that he made the doctrine of it 
so plain that it did not need any more writing or explanation. We 
believe that is why the apostles said so little about it. Now you 
will find what Christ himself said about it (St. John. 13 ch.), and 
you take that chapter and read it to any one that loves Jesus, and* 
if he don't feel like he ought to have his feet washed he don't feel 
like us. nor like he ought to feel. 

We will begin its reading at the second verse of the thirteenth 
chapter: "And supper being ended, the devil having now put 
into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son. to betray him " 

Notes on the second verse: Supper, their victuals, not the 
Lord's supper, the devil having not yet. You will see in verse 27. 

Fourth verse: He riseth from supper and laid aside his gar- 
ments and took a towel and girded himself. 

Notes on the fourth verse : Supper, literal : garments, over 
ones : girded himself, tied it around him as an apron. 

Fifth verse : After that he poureth water in a basin and began 
to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel where- 
with he was girded. 

Notes on the fifth verse: In a basin, something suited for 
foot-washing large enough to not waste the water on the floor. It 
will be a bowl or foot-tub or keeler or something of the kind. 

Sixth verse : Then cometh he to Simon Peter : and Peter 
saith unto him. Lord, doeth thou wash my feet? 

Notes on the sixth verse : Then cometh to Simon Peter after 
washing the others. 

Seventh verse. Jesus answered and said unto him. What I 
do thou knoweth not now : but thou shalt know hereafter. 

Notes on the seventh verse: Knoweth not now, that present 
time ; hereafter, after that time it was spoken. 

Eighth verse. Peter saith unto him, thou shalt never wash 



Unity Church Call. ji 

my feet. Jesus answered him. If I wash thee not thou hath no 
part with me. 

Notes on the eighth verse: Thou. Christ, no part with me. 
Part of the emblems of his body that he was about to administer 
as soon as he was through washing. 

Ninth verse. Simon Peter saith unto him. Lord, not my feet 
only, but also my hands and my head. 

Notes on the ninth verse : Feet, hands, head. Repented and 
wanted the will of Christ to be done with his feet, hands and head. 

Tenth verse. Jesus saith unto him. He that is washed needeth 
not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit : and ye are 
clean, but not all. 

Notes on the tenth verse : He that is washed, was meant his 
feet washed ; needeth not save to wash, prepare for the same order 
but is clean in the first order. Ye are clean but not all. Peter 
was clean because he had repented and submitted himself to the 
wishes of the Savior. Not all. Judas was not because he had not 
repented in full, therefore a man must believe and repent and be 
baptized and have his feet washed in as much faith as in baptism. 
Washing the feet is like baptism, don't save us nor will make them 
clean. They are answers to good conscience and they show the 
authority the master had over them and that we do truly believe in 
him by doing what he tells us sometimes, though it happens that 
men will come in to steal or rob the church of its virtue, money, 
character, and have no faith in God at all nor what he says, though 
you may baptize one of this kind a hundred times and then take 
him back to the church and wash his feet he will still be unclean 
until he repents. 

Eleventh verse. For he knew who should betray him : there- 
fore said he, Ye are not all clean. 

Notes on the eleventh verse : He. Jesus. Therefore said he, 
is the reason why now we see the outward performing is man's 
work. The work for God must be done from the heart and with 
the inner man, is what God wants for his in his kingdom. Here 
and there you will find one of this kind, but if he or she will be- 
lieve and repent and be baptized, and come, go wash his feet, 
they shall be clean. 

Twelfth verse. So after he had washed their feet and had 
taken his garments and was set down again, he said unto them, 
know ye what I have done unto you. 

Notes on the twelfth verse : Know ye. understand the matter. 
Compare verses 7, 13. 

Thirteenth verse. Ye call me master and Lord : and ye say 
well ; for so I am. 

Notes on the thirteenth verse : Ye. them all: say well, that is 
right, true; so I am. acknowledged it. 



J 2 Unity Church Call. 

Fourteenth verse. If I then, your Lord and master, have 
washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 

Notes on the twelfth verse : If I, then, the greatest of all, have 
washed your feet, ye ought, may know by that to wash. He did 
not say to the servants to wash the master's feet, but he washed 
the servants' feet and commanded afterwards to wash one another's 
feet. Here are two orders in this verse. The first is, let your feet 
be washed. Second, after letting them be washed you are not 
compelled, but he said, you ought to wash one another's feet. You 
will see he commanded those he had washed in first order to wash 
one another's, which would be in the second order. 

Worthy of Notice. — He said in the first order : If I wash thee 
not thou hast no part with me. In the second he said to them ; 
Ye ought to wash one another's feet. But in the first order, if I 
wash thee not, thou hast no part with me, and so say we ; and in 
the second order we command, as did Christ, after one has allowed 
his feet to have been washed, we will say unto him, as I washed 
thy feet so ought ye to wash one another's feet, and a time is set 
for that purpose afterwards. 

Fifteenth verse. For I have given you an example that ye 
should do as I have done to you. 

Notes on the fifteenth verse: Example : A pattern showed us 
how to do that ye should do the same way to others, therefore the 
minister had the power to say to them that he hast baptized that 
hast been baptized by others, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no 
part with me/' Remember, now, this is in the first order and not 
the second. 

Sixteenth verse. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is 
not greater than his lord, neither is he that is sent greater than he 
that sent him. 

Notes on the sixteenth verse : Verily, surely, we are servants 
sent to carry out a command for a master, not the master for the 
servant, but the servant for the master. The master has the 
power to send us, so we see he says, and shows us that he himself 
did it, and says we are no better than he is, which thing is so we 
all know and so as we are not better than he is, we will do the same 
thing as he ordered it. 

Seventeenth verse. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye 
do them. 

Notes 011 the seventeenth verse : If ye know these things, got 
common sense, happy are ye; good for you if ye do them both. 
Them is in the plural sense, which is both ordained in the ordi- 
nance. 

Eighteenth verse. I speak not of you all: I know whom I 
have chosen : but that the Scripture may be fulfilled. He that 
eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 



Unity Church Call. jj 

Notes on the eighteenth verse : I speak not of you all. Only 
his chosen is required to do this, it seems, that they must, and so 
we will. 

2. When to wash is after being baptized before giving any 
sacrament to him or her. and before admitting him or her to mem- 
bership in the church. Therefore, you will have the power, if he 
or she refuse to let the minister wash their feet, he can say, thou 
hast no part with me. which means in the emblems of Christ's 
broken body with us. You see in this that if you had given him 
or her the sacrament in the name of Christ, you could not say. 
thou hast no part with me. because he or she would have it then. 
Therefore, said Christ to Peter, if I wash thee not, thou hast no 
part with me. This was before he gave Peter the emblems of his 
body. So you see Peter had to let his feet be washed to get the 
emblems of Christ's body, which is life to the soul of men. This 
is all in the first order, and so do we in the first order. In the 
first order you will notice after washing. Christ gave example that 
this minister must wash the feet of him who hath been baptized, 
then give him the emblems of his body, for the one's own self, and 
then the said candidate is commanded to wash one another's feet 
in the second order. Now. in the second order, it is a social 
wash and any and every one who wants to can take part in it. if 
they like, just so they wash one another's feet. This second order 
is like the second order in sacrament, both social. Now. the first 
order in sacrament is to take it for him or herself and by them- 
selves, and that they may have life in them after that time. If 
taken, they are to take it to show, as will be seen in the same, 
further on in the sacrament. 

HOW TO WASH FEET. 

With bare hands to the bare feet, having on a large towel, 
girdled like an apron, to wipe the feet with. Just after washing 
and when the candidate has put on his shoes, and the minister has 
put on his over clothes that he may have removed, then take a 
very small piece of unleavened bread, made of wheat or barley, or 
any other kind may do in the absence of these, and give to him 
while he is sitting, saying unto him, this is the emblem of the 
body of Christ which was broken for you. it is the bread of life, 
here is a piece for you to eat that you may have life in you. take 
it in remembrance of your Lord who gave it for thee. (Unleavened 
bread is cooked without salt). After this a sup of clear water should 
be given to represent the strength of the blood of Christ. Say, as 
this water has strength in itself to quench your thirst, even so is 
the blood of Christ to your souls, for nothing else had strength 
enough to save you but it. He shed it for the sins of the world, 
that we might be saved through it : and in drinking something 



34 Unity Church Call. 

composing the blood, and thereby have life in us again; and this 
is it my brethren — drink ye all of it in remembrance of your Sa- 
vior. After this state to the candidate that the bread and water 
he or she have taken was sanctified by the Father and blessed by 
the Son, therefore we give it to you as we did, being unable to 
make it better. We take it under the blessing that Christ blessed 
it with when he instituted it. Then state to the candidate that he 
has on the whole armor of God, and is expected to go out and 
fight against sin. As often as you eat this bread and drink this 
cup. ye show the Lord's death until he comes again. 

WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE OF CHRIST ABOUT FOOT WASHING. 

St. John, 14-15: If ye love me keep my commandments. 
Verse 21 : He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he 
it is that loveth me. If a man loves me he will keep my words. 
Chapter xv. , verse x: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall 
abide in my love, even as I have kept my father's, and abideth in 
his love. Verse 12 : We must love as Christ did. Verse 14: We 
are his friends if we do whatever he commands us. Verse 20 re- 
fers to the words spoken at the feet washing. Remember, the ser- 
vant vis not greater than his lord. If you will notice, Christ and 
his apostles were up late that night. He had a long talk with them 
in charging them about many things. You will see his discourse 
with them was from the 13th to the 18th chapter of St. John. If 
you will read the above said chapters, you cannot resist him any 
longer. What Paul says about foot washing in one place, which 
is in Eph., 6 ch., 15 ver. : Have your feet shod with the prepara- 
tion of the gospel of peace. It seems that it takes it to have on 
the whole armor of God and to bring within thy soul. 

What promise have we by obeying Christ and following him? 
See what he says in St. John, 8:12: 44 I am the light of the world. 
He that followeth me," etc. 

Notice. — Christ offers a reward to follow him and has the re- 
ward to give, and that is more than this or that denomination 
offers, and if they did offer, I don't think they could pay. Christ 
offers a reward. Let us get in behind him and follow him as did 
the apostles, and he says we shall be saved, and this is the straight 
gate, and he said enter ye in at the straight gate, though it is only 
here and there a traveler, and you may get lonesome being on the 
road by yourself, but go into it. Read Matt., 7:13-14, and see 
what the Lord says about this gate. 

THE LORD'S SUPPFR WHEN AND HOW TO TAKE. 

Whenever the pastor and church or elders or evangelist or 
bishop see fit and can properly arrange for the same, on some night 
is the time, and at any place of public resort designated for 
worship. 



Unity Church CalL 

Notice — It is supper, not dinner nor breakfast, and should 
be eaten at night is the time Christ took it, so don't change it in 
the morning, it would be breakfast; at noon, it would be dinner; 
at night, it would be supper. In so doing it will be understood 
by the onlookers, as this order is to show they should understand 
how and what strength we were redeemed by, so may it be. 

HOW TO TAKE IT IN SECOND ORDER. 

The church should provide herself with thirteen cups, twelve 
small and one large one, so as to hold a pint of water, of which, 
after a sup had been taken out by the minister, the remainder 
should be equally divided with the other twelve cups. They should 
contain at least a swallow to each of the twelve cups, and a cake 
of unleaven bread should be had on hand for use. A table large 
enough for twelve members should be provided for, a nice clean 
table cloth put thereon, and the table should be set before service 
begins by some one who understands how, the deacon or other 
judicial brother. 

The setting is after the table has been placed in the aisle before 
the altar, then place thereon the cloth, next the placing of the cups 
turned bottom upwards, except the large one, which should be 
placed at the head of the table filled with water for the sacrament 
purposes. It and the bread should be wrapped up together. If 
desirable the water may be omitted in the large cup until ready for 
use and provided in a bottle or some other vessel. After preach- 
ing the pastor or evangelist, bishop or apostle or someone ordered 
by them, which must be in this case a competent ordained minister 
of the same faith and order, come to the head of the table where 
the big cup and the bread is covered up and say, We have assem- 
bled for the purpose of showing the Lord's death as it is ours to do 
until he comes again, and as it is for everyone, all that do sincerely 
believe in him are entitled to it and are requested to take this 
supper together to show his death and suffering for sin until he 
comes again. No one need fear to take it if you can take it in 
remembrance of his death, but if you take it without deserving his 
body you will eat and drink damnation to your own soul. Not 
mine or someone else's but your own soul, so now examine your- 
selves, and if you see after an examination of your own self that 
you can take this supper in remembrance of his death for our sins, 
come and take of it, then say, fill up the table ye believers of 
Christ. The brethren gather around so when they had sat or stood 
at the table the pastor or his appointed one or evangelist or bishop 
or as the case may be, takes the cake of bread prepared and laid 
betore him, goes to every one's cup that is placed on the table or 
to as many as may be around them ; a very small piece of bread is 
laid at the cup of each brother around the table, then the minister 



j 6 Unity Church Call. 

should return to the head again and with his piece for himself tx> 
eat, leaving the remainder on the table beside the cup, hold his 
piece in his hands, then say to the brethren around the table: 
Take, my brethren. They all take their bread and hold it in their 
hands as he does, hold it before their own eyes in their fingers, 
the minister giving them the example by exhibiting his in the same 
manner. This is to show us how the Lord's body was broken for 
us and our sins. Eat it in remembrance of your Lord. All eat at 
the same time, and not one before the other but tarry one for the 
other. Next have the big cup filled up with water or so much 
thereof as will supply the table. As you pour say: As free as you 
see this water pour out of this vessel for us so free did the blood 
and water flow from Christ's side for our souls. As easy as it is to 
obtain for the people's use so is the blood of Christ obtainable for 
the souls of men. The elder then takes a sup himself from the big 
cup and hands it to the next nearest brother saying : Take this 
and divide it among yourselves. This brother now goes around 
and divides the remainder with each of the twelve cups, after 
which he returns the cup to the minister. Then the minister says 
to the brethren: Take, my brethren. Then they take in their 
hands as did the bread, the minister saying: This is to represent 
the strength of the blood of Christ; as this is strong in giving life 
to any thirsty created thing, so is the blood of Christ in giving life 
to the souls of mankind. Drink ye all of it my brethren. They 
all drink together at the same time, all they have in each cup. 
Here say: We have eaten the Lord's supper without asking any 
blessing. It is because Christ has blessed it for us in the first 
setting of the table, and as Christ is everlasting so is his blessing 
evermore. Amen. As these go away let others come if there be 
any. If so they come and are waited upon in the same manner as 
did at first only the minister don't eat nor drink any more. If 
there is none then state to the people that Christ on that night 
when he got through administering the supper the Scriptures say : 
When they had sung a hymn they went out, that means they got 
through singing a hymn before they went out, so do we. When we 
are through singing this hymn we will be considered dismissed. 
But just before the singing — just after supper — say to them, after 
taking the big cup in your right hand that they have all drank of. 
This is the cup of the New Testament, holding it high enough for 
all to see it while saying, in which we trust and in which the world 
was redeemed by, and in which we hope and expect to be re- 
deemed from the earth by in the latter day by the Father through 
the blood of the everlasting covenant, world without end. Amen. 
Then sing. 

Not all the blood of beasts, on Jewish altars slain, 
Could give the guilty conscience peace, or wash away the stain, 
or some other hymn suitable for that purpose. 



Un ity Ch u rch Call. 



37 



A FEW SCRIPTURAL REMARKS ABOUT THE SUPPER. 

The example is nearly given in Paul's letter to the Corinthians 
(I Cor. ii 123. to the end of the chapter). As our manner is with 
this so it is in that direction, but he don't give the whole of it for 
he said the rest will I set in order when I come. So he keeps a 
part. It is not revealed how to bless the bread in either verse nor 
are we commanded to ask it. but it says : x\nd when he had given 
thanks, he broke it. and said. take. eat. The first command to 
them in the matter. The next is eat, and whiie they were eating 
he tells what it is they were eating. He says unto them, This is 
my body which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of me 
(25). This means the same, only he supped, so you can see the 
eating and drinking is given to us and the command to eat and 
to drink, but the blessing of the table is not, and to guess at it I 
fear would be dangerous so to do. Deuteronomy says : That 
which is revealed belongeth to us and our children forever. But 
the sacred things belong to the Lord so we think. As he is ever- 
lasting, so is his blessing at the first setting of the table, so we 
take it. So drink of the supper to show his death. This verse 
shows that this mode is to show his death. He did not show it at 
the supper on his part but on our part, but showed his on the cross 
after the supper was over. So he tells us to show it after he had 
given us of the same for ourselves. 

Notice — Christ gave to his disciples the first time for them- 
selves, and by themselves, and said to them: As often as you do 
this you do show my death until I come again. Thus is meant the 
taking of the supper by them that had taken it once should after- 
wards take it to show, and keep on taking it that way until he 
comes ; and so do we after foot washing in the first order. 

Twenty - seventh verse. The danger of eating this supper. 
Men may not take it as a plaything, but must be impureness to- 
ward our Redeemer, and have our mind upon him. But let a man 
examine himself. No exceptions made in this order. 

You see in the first order, he (Christ) said: If I wash thee 
not, thou hast no part with me. But in this order the apostle 
writes : Let a man examine himself, and let him eat not me nor 
you, but let him examine himself, but the man is to judge himself, 
and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 

Twenty-ninth verse. He that eats and drinks unworthily, 
•eats and drinks damnation to himself — not to any one but himself. 

Thirtieth verse. It is the cause of weakness and sickness, 
and sleepiness among them that take the same unworthily. 

Thirty-first verse. Judging ourselves save judging. 

Thirty-third verse. Tarry one for the other. This is while 
passing the bread around by the elder, and while dividing the 
water out of the big cup, all wait and drink together. So it must be. 



j 8 Unity Church Call, 

Thirty-fourth verse. If any man hunger, let him eat at home. 
This, he must understand, is not a literal supper, with no rule 
and of external support, but he that is after this sort is required, in 
this verse, to eat at home before, for it is condemnation to be 
otherwise minded at the table. Then that this is a supper of the 
broken body of Christ. The rest, said the apostle, I'll set in order 
when I come. We don't know what other is liken, but the one, 
and that is the singing. You will find the singing of the song and 
going out after supper in the 26th chapter and 30th verse of St. 
Matthew, and Mark 14:26. 

WHAT TO USE IN THE SACRAMENT. 

It must be water. Why? Because Christ said I am the true 
vine, and my father is the husbandman. St. John, 15 ch., 1 ver. 
This is the chapter that shows what vine Christ was talking about 
at the supper table, as this discourse of his is at the same table 
where he told his disciples : I will not drink henceforth of this 
fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it new with 
you in my father's kingdom. Now, because Christ has said the 
vine, the world it seems, has decided that he meant a grapevine, 
and don't consider him as being the vine, and have taken a grape- 
vine to be the true vine. But it never was true to life, but true to 
make men drunk and disgrace themselves, for it made Lot drunk 
when it was given him by his daughters, after he had left Sardon 
and made his way to the mountain, and the work of it is a shame 
to-day. It made Noah drunk after he had passed over the flood, 
and so caused one of his own children to break the command. 
For the commandment is : Children obey your parents ! How 
can they if the parents be drunk. Now the translaters have 
and do say because the word vine was spoken in the past tense by 
Christ it meant the past old vine, but if they will look at what the 
Bible says, it shows Christ to be the past, present and future true 
vine, and have been rejected as now God planted it. Jer., 2 ch., 
21 ver. Water is from this vine. Rev., 22 ch., 1 ver. And it is 
life. 17 ver. Take it freely; that is what they say, and don't 
add nor take away. If you do see what follows. 18, 19 vers. 
If you will notice when God gave command to the raising of a 
righteous man, he strictly charged that he should not be given 
wine or strong drink. The children of Israel forbidden to drink 
it. Num., 6 ch.. 1-8 vers. Sampson's parents were forbidden to 
give him any. Judges, 13 ch., 7 ver. John the Baptist's parents 
were forbidden to give him any. Luke, 1 ch., 15 ver. The 
bishops are forbidden to drink any now. See I Tim., 3 ch., 3 
ver., and tells us in the I Cor. 10 ch.. 4 ver. What is a spiritual 
drink, and shows it to be water, and said it came from the rock r 
and that the rock was Christ ; and again, nature itself teaches that 



Unity Church Call, jg 

it is not natural for people to drink blood, and it never was in- 
tended so. The blood of Christ is to trust in, and not to drink 
up. Moses in taking the passover did not drink the blood, but 
sprinkled it on the door-post for protection, and got behind it for 
its protection ; and so the first born was saved and did eat the kid, 
but saved the blood for protection, and so do we. Ex., 12 ch., 
13 ver. If they had eaten and drunken up that blood the first 
born of them would have been killed that night. 

Now we are commanded to take something to represent the 
blood's good to us, and not the blood itself. Christ did not 
give it to his disciples himself we know, because he had not spilt 
it then, when he administered the supper. Now it is commonly 
said that blood is represented by its color, which may be so, but 
in this supper it is to show what the death of Christ is to us, and 
it is life to us. Then to take something to represent the blood's 
good to us. It would have to be something come from heaven 
having life in itself without man's aid, and come to bring life, 
this would make it water. 

And so we are not saved by the color of the blood but by the 
strength that is in the blood. If the color could have saved us, 
we would have been saved long before Christ came. The world is 
acquainted with the color of blood, but is a stranger to its strength, 
so we will establish the strength and not the color. The water, as 
it is, is from Christ, and represents his strength to the world, as it 
is the life of everything earthly. It is in itself as Christ in that 
sense of the word, and again it represents the blood of Christ in 
being free to the world and again in coming near and being easily 
obtainable, and Christ was a water man, not a wine bibber. They 
asked him for wine at the feast. He called for water and sent it 
away, but when the king had tasted thereof he called it the best of 
wine, and so is water to-day, when taken in the name of God. 
And again, Christ says whomsoever shall give to drink a cup of 
cold water only in the name of a disciple, shall not lose his reward. 
Matt., 10:42. Water came from him upon the cross, and it is to 
be used as a spiritual drink, and I will say again that is this I have 
brought out all these for the church, and the half is not told yet. 
but that we all may know that God's Son is no dealer in wine, and 
don't you be if you are going to follow him. He told Nicodemus 
he had to be born of the water and the spirit to get in the king- 
dom of heaven. He himself was baptized in it, washed feet in it 
and drank it, and on the preparation for the supper told his dis- 
ciples to follow a man bearing a pitcher of water, and upon doing 
so found the right house. So you see he was a waterman and not 
a wine bibber, and we are commanded to follow him, and so we will. 

Let us take up the true vine again and consider it. St. John 
15:5. He says: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He- that 



40 Unity Church Call, 

abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: 
for without me ye can do nothing. He says, he the vine, we the 
branches. Now I want to show you a mystery in this. The vine 
is to bear the branches and the branches to bear fruit to represent 
the vine, then you can see as water is life to us so is Christ to the 
soul : as it is free to us so is he ; as it is always generally in us and 
with us so is Christ, and as it is free without price for all that want 
it so you can see when we drink in the name of Christ we show to 
the world what Christ is to us by his death, so you see we have 
got to take something that has life in it to represent our true vine, 
our fruit must be life all the way round. And again Christ said he 
was going to drink it anew with them in the kingdom. I say will 
it be wine? No, because wine is a mocker. Prov. 20:1. It will 
not be allowed up there. Will there be water? Yes, it is the water 
fountain head and in river clear as a crystal, so you see they that 
drink it down here will miss it when they get there. Now if we 
were grape vine branches we would have to bear grapes to repre- 
sent the vine, and if watermelon branches then watermelons to 
represent that vine, and if pumpkins then pumpkins, but are not 
of the earthly beverage, therefore our bread and meat and drink 
are the emblems of that which come down from above and they 
are life to the sons of men so we will not give wine nor take it to 
represent the blood of Christ. Amen. 

It shall be a statute forever to the Unitarians to not drink 
wine, ior we are Nazarites. Lev., 10 ch., 9 ver. 

For whosoever give you water to drink shall not loose his re- 
ward. Mark, 9 ch., 41 ver. 

A man cannot be a good Christian that drinks wine, for we 
think it is the devil's drink, and kept in his hellish pit. I Cor., 
10 ch., 21 ver. 

The preachers have got out of the way on wine. Is., 28 ch., 
7 ver. 

The people of old that drink wine always erred. Dan., 5 ch., 
1. 10 vers. Is it not the truth? 

A man that drinks wine has no heart to serve God, and how 
can he understand, for whoredom and wine and new wine have 
taken it away. Hosea, 4 ch., 11 ver. 

Wine is not in nowise like the blood of Christ. See how God 
talks about it in Hosea, 9 ch., 4 ver. 

John the Baptist did not drink wine, nor give any to his dis- 
ciples ; to follow him we will have to leave off wine. Luke, 1 ch., 
15 ver. 

The bishop must not. Titus, 1 ch., 7 ver. ; I Tim., 3 ch., 
3 ver. 

Babylon fell on account of it. Rev., 14 ch., 8 ver. 



Unity Church Call. 41 

She made all nations drunk of the wrath of her fornication. 
Rev.. 18 ch., 34 ver. 

Christ refused to drink it. So let us do the same by following 
his example. Mark. 15 ch., 23 ver. 

It displeased God because the Israelites gave the Nazarites 
wine to drink and we think it would displease him were we given 
wine to drink and we drank it. Amos. 2 ch., 12 ver. 

HOW TO PRAY. 

Our prayer is found in Math., 6 ch., 9-14 vers. Now the 
disciples of Christ had been with him and followed him, yet they 
did not know how to pray, so they asked him and he led this 
prayer, and they responded to the same. In this prayer he tells 
us it seems of his own accord for our good, and he tells us why to 
pray that way, and it is to differ from the heathen. 9th ver. 
After this manner therefore pray ye: " Our Father, which art in 
Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be 
done, in earth as it is in heaven ; give us this day our daily bread, 
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us 
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the king- 
dom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen." 

A few words about this prayer : I think there is great virtue 
in it, if not, the Savior would not have taken so much pains in tell- 
ing us how to pray it. It came from Cod to man, and I think it 
will go back to God. If we do by it as he said, so we highly ad- 
monish it at all times above all prayers, and when it is prayed, one 
should lead it that is acquainted with it, and all the host should 
unite and respond with the leader as he or she repeats it, but 
others are allowed, unto all that have that spirit to pray, other 
ways and other prayers, in the truth and in the spirit is accepted, 
as the conscience is free, but if we don't have that spirit then there 
is not much good done in any kind of prayer. It seems to us that 
all men ought to esteem the Lord's prayer above all prayers. 
Why? 1 st. Because the Lord taught it. 2d. Because he loved 
to hear it. 3d. Because he loved to see us obey him. 4th. Be- 
cause it makes us differ from the heathen. 5th. Because we 
believe he will hear his own prayer, as it came from him. 6th. 
Because he intended to hear an answer to it when he taught it to 
them. 7th. Because it is a universal prayer. 8th. Because it has 
a starting place and a place to stop. Others do not ; they start 
them anywhere, and generally end them nowhere. 9th. Because 
it has more honor in it than any other. 10th. Because it has more 
virture and truth in it than any other, nth. Because there is 
more bread and meat in it. It don't lack but one thing on earth, 
that is for men to have more faith in it. 



42 



Unity Church Call. 



THE OBJECT IN PRAYING. 

The object in praying this prayer is to please him who taught 
it to us ; he gave the manner of it, and said when to pray was any 
time we pray. It is the only public prayer he taught that we have 
found, yet we see he accepted many others from them that did not 
know his. A righteous man's prayer availeth much, and unless we 
do right we cannot do much good by praying. God does not hear 
wicked mens' prayers unless they repent, or in other words, have 
a mind to turn from their wickedness, then God hears them. 
It is right to pray as our head tells us, and so we will from time to 
time, God enabling us ; as is seen all through the Bible that God 
did and does admire mostly secret prayers, and so we will not raise 
any excitement praying public prayers, but in secret we will ask 
God for what we want. Again, if God is about us he is in a secret 
place, and to pray to him we will have to pray in a secret place 
where he is, and so may it be. Math., 9 ch., 6-14 vers. ; Acts, 
10 ch., 9 ver. ; Psalms, 55 ch., 17 ver. ; Dan., 6 ch., 10 ver. 

The God that gets the most praying is, as it seems, in Acts, 
10 ch. , 34 ver. ; I Kings, 18 ch., 26 ver. There are two ways to 
pray — private and public. St. John, 11 ch., 42, 43 ver. ; Matth., 
26 ch., 36-38-39 ver. 

PRACTICAL PRAYER MEETINGS. 

These kind of meetings must be carried on at home, among 
our children, friends and relatives. As a rule, we never meet at 
the church only on the first day of the week for divine services, 
unless for special occasions, and usually on Thursday night in each 
week, a general practical prayer meeting night, or some other 
night appointed for the occasion. On this appointed night every 
brother and sister in the church is expected to faithfully instruct 
the Lord's prayer to all the members that do not know it. By 
doing same and causing the same to be done, so that all may be- 
gin to have faith in it — the Lord. I think, when we have prayed 
this prayer long enough to see what is m it, we will have more 
faith in it than we have now. So train all the brethren to unite 
in the Lord's prayer, and get it as far in the hearts of the people 
as possible, and when you have done so you have been engaged 
in instructing the people to do what the Lord has given or said to 
do, and that it is the prayer he has taught us to pray, and surely 
he has heard and accepted his own words of prayer ; for it the 
Lord does not accept of such a prayer he never would have told 
his disciples to pray it, and I know the Lord will love us if we do 
what he tells us. But others may be allowed in order to avoid 
offences, and for the conscience of others, as the work of Christi- 
anity is to follow peace with all men, and keep the peace of God 
with us. If this rule is carried out we will see a change in this 



Unity Church Call. 4.3 

country. If we mean what we practice, for the prayer says "thy 
will be done in earth as it is in heaven." If this is done it would 
make a great change, for it is his will for all men to do better than 
they are now doing, and deal honest, and give one another a little 
more right-down upright living with each other. Math., 6 ch., 
9-14 ver. 

PREACHING THE GOSPEL. 

The gospel, it may be said, is what Christ said and did, and 
to preach it is to tell it, and to teach it is to explain and perform 
it as a pattern. So you see a preacher has to preach and teach. 
Concerning preaching I will say it is not needful that we should 
tell what to preach, for Christ has told all to preach the gospel. 
It should be preached so as to tell them, and each of them, what 
the Lord has said concerning their cases, and in showing the 
danger and the good that their conduct is preparing for them ; 
showing up his love by his suffering and death for them ; all his 
friendly aids to them, and in the meantime, showing their conduct 
towards him ; that he is a God that cannot lie ; that what he says 
is firmer than the heaven and the earth, and all that is lacking for 
a man to be saved is faith, is repentance, and then work. The be- 
liever should be taught to keep his commandments and to observe 
all things whatsoever I have commanded you, as said Christ. 
This consists of all the duties belonging to the righteous ; consists 
in not lieing, stealing from one another, corrupt communication, 
evil speaking, fornication, adultry, or any unbecoming thing. As 
said the apostle "we must shun the appearance of evil." You see 
Christ commands the preacher to do all these things — be ye right- 
eous, be ye holy, be ye perfect, and in the whole matter bj ye 
loving in words, deeds and actions, and not in deceitfulness, but 
in purity of heart. 

SINGING AS A LEADER. 

A songster should sing all songs, hymns or praises with such 
tune and tone as would suit the congregation to unite with him, 
and to fit such time and place and purpose for which the assembly 
meets, and should lead at a rate that all can sing after him ; not 
too high nor too low; not too fast nor too slow; but deep. And 
their minister, church deacons and judicial brethren, should strive 
to have good singing in the church, for it is an important actor, 
outward charm and inward feeling. 

ORDINATION OF PREACHERS. 

Concerning this work we will say that those professed to have 
been warned of God to preach the gospel unto all the world, to every 
creature, and also to have become a member in the church of this 
Union, an application being made to either pastor or elder. If 
approved by either of them they will then notify the church of the 



Unity Church Call. 

time and place of ordination, and at such time the pastor or elder 
examine the brother accordingly. I Tim., 3 ch., 1-8 ver. 

If the candidate is a married man. he must respond to the 
same, if not. he must agree to be guided by the same as a rule of 
his life. If found competent in their judgment he is ordained in 
the church of which he is a member if there is no objection, by a 
vote of the church, and of course he must be in good fellowship 
with his church in this Union. After ordination of prayer and 
laying on of hands by the ministers, he is then instructed from the 
second chapter of the first epistle of John, and then fellowship him 
by giving him the right hand of fellowship, and cause the church 
to do the same ; then he is to be taken up into the stand and re- 
commended to the people and the world at large. Thus ends the 
ordination. The pastor then fills out the credentials after the 
form in this book, that he may cause to be presented and have on 
hand for the purpose, upon candidate paying him one dollar as a 
compensation, etc. After ordination and the candidate pays for 
and receives his credentials, which throughout the world shows 
that he become as one of us, and should produce preacher fruit, 
make a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly divid- 
ing the truth should not be bound in any case by either church 
or pastor, but the elderhood orifice is the orifice that love should 
be seen in, and in the church can see how to perform it by us 
first loving one another. The master said by this rule shall 
all men know that you are my disciples. The ordained brother 
is ordained in the church for the world, and when either of us 
deserves help in this work those that are able ought to have enough 
love to help, for we are to love in deed, action and word, and be, 
as said the Lord: '*As I laid down my life for you, so ought ye 
to lay down your lives for the brethren." So may it be. 

Why we ordain before allowing to preach. 1st. Because the 
credential specifying ordination is only a pass through the world. 
God calls and sends a man once. The man is to go. The church 
or presbyter is to give him the pass through the world, and the 
sooner it is given the sooner he can get off ; and as the call is until 
death we make the credentials in accordance. 

Paul says how can he preach except he be sent? Therefore 
we see he is not sent until he has gone, and is not gone until he 
gets the pass to go with. A man must have two passes, the one 
just named and one from God, and both must be giving to the 
people for examination, etc. 

And we further find that Paul and the apostles were all or- 
dained before preaching, and we don't want to remove the old 
land-mark, and we believe that a man must be ordained to receive 
the Holy Ghost for preaching. The apostles, after being ordained, 



Unity Church Call. 45 

tarried at Jerusalem until endowed with the Holy Ghost, which is 
a good example to-day. 

ORDINATION OF DEACONS. 

It happens sometimes that the churches multiply so fast that 
it requires the assistance of the deacons in that church. Their 
work is the temporal affairs of the church, the care of widows and 
orphans, the care of the poor, burying of the dead, the welfare of 
the pastor, the property of the church, the sexton, and all the treas- 
ures for the church or pastor, missionary boxes, etc.. are all in 
their hands. 

THE KIND OF MEN. 

It must be men full of the Holy Ghost. Their qualifications 
must be confined to I Tim. 3:8. 16 vers. Same as the preacher 
only he may drink a little wine. They are to look to the church 
for aid in all their work. It is expected that the church furnish 
them the means, yet they should get aid otherwise if the chance 
admit. So they are to serve from time appointed by church and 
pastor until the church and pastor elect others or reappoint them. 
Their number should be from two to seven, their time can be defi- 
nite or indefinite as the church and pastor may so appoint. 

TREASURE DEPARTMENT HOW AND WHEN. 

The treasure holder of whatever kind he or she may be. after 
divine services is over and the pastor or minister having dismissed 
his congregation with the understanding that the treasureman will 
call on them for their contribution, then the treasurer holders should 
take their stand by the passage way and say to every one that 
passes out by him, please give me something for the pastor or poor 
or church, as the case may be, each one speaking for his own 
treasure and calling the name of his own treasure. The people 
should be instructed so and be required to get their money changed 
before coming to church so as to give what they want to without 
changing any money in church, and are to give what they can of 
produce or other valuable presents that would equalize the money. 
The pastor is to instruct the people to give in each of the treasures, 
telling them what the Bible says in regard to giving. This should 
be done before dismission. There may be a treasurer holder for 
every financial purpose in the church but no two treasurer holders 
for the same treasure, and there should be standing treasurer hold- 
ers for the pastor, poor and the church. The people are not 
required to give money at all times but of what they possess, and 
exchange can be made by the treasureman or his substitute. After 
collection the clerk of the church takes down what the people have 
given so that he can be ready to make a report at any and all 
times. The treasure for the pastor is open to him at all times and 



46 Unity Church Call. 

he is the key to it. But the others are expended by orders of the 
church with or without the pastor present. A special treasureman 
may be appointed at any time needed. All these officers are and 
must be deacons, sisters or judicial brothers, and not ministers. 
All the money taken up tor a specified thing should be strictly 
spent in that direction and not otherwise. 

VISITING THE SICK. 

This word is in going and seeing and aiding the needs of the 
sick. If you can't do all. do what you can to help them. Then, 
that man has visited the sick, the same to the prison-bound ; so to 
stranger ; so to him that is weak and feeble ; and the deacons are 
to see after all such things in the church. Let us do more of these 
things and not so much of the other, for it is the things that the 
world is suffering for to-day. It is not suffering for members of the 
chuich, but it is for Christians, for none will do these things but a 
Christian, so let us relieve the world of her trouble so far as we can. 
What the Savior told us to do for one another is not for his death 
but for his life. 

SELECTION OF OFFICERS 

May vary according to circumstances. Their time may be defi- 
nite or indefinite, as the church may determine. The church is 
in power to elect any preacher she wants at any time she may de- 
termine it to be to the interest of the church. 

The church is in power to expel or turn off her pastor at any 
time she deems it necessary to the interest of the church. The 
selection or rejection should be for the better, not for the worse. 
The pastor, when elected by the church, has the controlling power 
over the church, therefore, the church should make a selection of 
one whose usefulness is hindered by no moral or social defect. 
No one should be elected outside of the church nor by the minor- 
ity in the church. Don't attempt to elect a pastor unless two- 
thirds of the members are present, and if they are divided by two 
or three, that man should not be allowed to rule over that church, 
unless the church can make a unanimous vote out of the two-thirds. 
If the church cannot agree on the first, the second should be run. 
If not on the second, the third should be run. If they fail to agree 
on the third, the deacon who is the moderator of that meeting 
should set another time and dismiss them. All elections of preach- 
ers should be made in their absence, and a note sent him in both 
cases, acceptance or rejection. This should be done without their 
aid or instruction. In either case a committee should be appointed 
to make a selection for the church and the church vote for or 
against the decision of that committee, and the decision of the 
church is final. This committee should be appointed previous to 
the time of selection or rejection, and at the time of meeting that 



Unity Church Call. 47 

committee reports to the church, as the case may be. and not 
until then shall they tell any one. If for selection they have three, 
report one at a time, and let the church vote on that one. and 
then another. If neither be elected, another time is set and a new 
selection is made, and so on until the pastor that that church wants 
is elected. The bishop or evangelist or apostles, by virtue of 
their office, are to serve as pastors of all churches having no pas- 
tor until the church shall have elected one. Upon the first visit 
of the elected pastor, the church presents all of its officers and 
affairs to him by the clerk or otherwise for his rejection or approval. 
The pastor elected should have all power even to the rejection of 
its previous officers and the reappointing of new ones in their 
stead, so nothing can be laid to the former pastor and church. 

The pastor should have not less than two elders of the church 
to assist him in the spiritual welfare of the church, who are selected 
among the younger elders in that church or some sister church, 
who have not been called to any work, but have been ordained 
to the ministry. 

The wor< of these elders is the spiritual work of the church 
in the presence and absence of the pastor, and by his appointment 
and sanction of the church these elders are not bound in any case 
when the work of the ministry calls them elsewhere, for they are 
ordained to go, but it is good for them if they tarry until endowed 
with the Holy Ghost, and that is the knowledge and understanding 
of God's word with the remembrance in all points there attached 
to preaching, but should be encouraged to go and shoot his shickle. 
Those elected by the church and pastor are to preach, baptize, 
wash feet and administer the supper : bury the dead pray over 
the sick, attending to all grievances, private and public, council 
ordination or any other spiritual work of the church, as divine 
services, in the absence of the pastor. 

The deacons are in the same manner appointed and assigned 
their work by the church and pastor, the clerk is the next one to 
the pastor, to be elected from the deacons by the church and pas- 
tor, and as this is a collective agency office the church and its 
pastor should elect only one who can do its writing, who is called 
the clerk or scribe of the church, whose duty it is to take the pro- 
ceedings of the whole action of the church and pastor while pro- 
gressing in the church, and keep a minute of all moneys received 
and disbursed in ail departments of the church, being supplied by 
the church with sufficient paper therefor. The pastor, when 
elected to a church, is by virtue of his office moderator of all its 
meetings. They are the overseers and are to rule, and the church 
is to obey. The pastor is the watchman of that flock and should 
be counted worthy of double honor. An accusation against him 
should not be received only out of the mouths of two or three 



48 Unity Church Call. 

witnesses, as Christ himself is waiting on them with the church, 
not the church without them, to teach and preach the gospel to 
every creature, and then he has promised to bring the end. and let 
us so account of them as God's embassadors. The fourth chapter 
of Ephesians is a good instruction for the pastor to instruct his 
church by. for it speaks decidedly in favor of the Unity faith. 
The church is to elect a pastor, the pastor and the church elect all 
other officers : it may be said that he elects or orders the business 
done by the church. 

ELDERS OF CHURCHES. 

These are the younger elders who have or may be ordained 
for the gospel ministry, and while preparing and awaiting the holy 
Spirit to endow them with all needful grace. The church elects 
them as instruments in their own hands for the spiritual welfare of 
the church. They are called elders of the church because they 
are raised in the church of which they are members, elders plural, 
because there are more than one. They are elected as one of the 
eyes of the church, therefore they are to serve in office of the pas- 
tor, and for him during his absence, on all spiritual things ; their 
work is to do good everywhere, preach the gospel, administer the 
ordinances of the church, the instruction of the law of Christ, and 
of grievancies of all kinds, the maintenance of a watchfulness for. 
and counciling with the church, by and with the pastor's orders, 
and not otherwise : who have in control the bishoprick. the bury- 
ing of the dead and the praying over the sick. See James. 5 ch, . 
14 ver. Their prayers shall save the sick. 15 ver. Their terms 
of office expires when the pastor and the church shall determine. 
The study of elderhood should be the Bible, their instructor the 
words of God. of the pastor, of the bishop and of the evangelist. 

The deacons are selected in the same sense as elders, save 
that they only serve in the literal duties of office. See their duties 
in ordinations. 

The collective agency office, or the scribes or clerks of the 
church, is an important one of this office. God inspired men to 
write the Bible for us so far as we can see back in this matter. It 
takes a good and careful brother in this office to write the business 
being transacted as it does to transact the business. If possible 
he should be selected from the character of a deacon or a bishop. 
See I Tim.. 3 ch. Either of the two to be the right man in the 
right place, and may be called the right hand of the church ; their 
work is to take the proceedings of all the business transactions of 
the church, and pastor's work in the same, and that in every de- 
partment of the church a complete history of all its business should 
be easily had and referred to at any and all times ; the signing of 
all ord. rs on the treasurer in the name of the church and the pas- 



Unity Church Call. <j.g 

tor. Paper and necessaries should be allowed him. Credentials 
of all ordinations assigned for the church by him and must be the 
wisher of the church. 

CHILDREN BAPTISM. 

Jdi this baptism we will give what the master says in a few 
words. Matt. 18:1-7. He called a little child unto him and set 
him in the midst of them and said : I say unto you, except ye be 
converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the 
kingdom of heaven. The child is the pattern. Who so receives 
one such little child in my name receiveth me. The child is here 
made the subject. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones 
which believeth in me, it were better for him that a millstone were 
hanged about his neck and that he was drowned in the depth of 
the sea. The setting of the child in the midst. Matt. 19:14, 15. 
But Jesus said. Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come 
unto me : for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his 
hands on them and departed thence. He is in receipt of them. 
Jesus and his disciples did not agree on this question then, but 
after this we see Paul baptizing the jailer and all of his house and 
so do we when the children are not forbidden to come unto Christ. 
If we are on Christ's word we will let them go. Come to Christ for 
he is the head, the builder of the church, and invites the children 
into it. What shall we do, must we get in the door and keep 
them out or not? We say not, because Christ intends to save the 
children in the church, is why this is found in his words and we 
want ours saved so we will let them go into the service of God, and 
forbid them not, that they may grow up in the admonition of the 
Lord and thus stop the growth of sin in our land and country 
wherever we be, and in taking Christ for the way it is to take what 
he said and did in all things. It is a mathematical rule to under- 
stand the Bible by. He did not go through the order of baptizing 
children but it is what he said, and we will obey him as he said 
let them come, and the way to come is through faith and baptism. 

WHEN TO BAPTIZE. 

It is when they have been taught by the word of God to 
know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that 
he has died and risen again the third day for our justification, and 
that God has commanded us to repent and be baptized for the re- 
mission of our sins, and teach them that repentance is to do right 
with all mankind, and do unto all men as you would have them to 
do unto you. If they are willing to do these things after confess- 
ing that they believe that he will save them upon their doing these 
things, then the pastor of the church of which they are to join, 
or elders, after being satisfied that the child has been properly 
taught, accordingly they are baptized after confessing that they 



JO Unity Church Call, 

believe that Jesus is the Christ, that they are willing to obey his 
word, and looking for the promise that Christ promised to every 
one that confess him. Matt., 10:32; Luke, 12:8; Rom., 10:9; 
I John, 5:1. Then they are baptized in the same manner of bap- 
tism with water in water. 

REMARKS ABOUT BAPTISM. 

It is as easy for a child to believe in Christ as it is to believe 
in its parents and it is as easy for them to do right as it is for them 
to do wrong, and lie and steal, and go to balls, etc. It will pre- 
vent the children undergoing a great evil and a gieat risk. It shows 
that everything that has breath has a right to serve God at all ages. 

Notice. — They must confess Christ before being baptized, for 
Christ has promised to save them that confess him, and to confess 
him is to confess what he has said they believe is the truth, for 
God's word is truth. He did not say how big nor how old the 
one is that confesses Christ, but merely gave his word of promise 
in their behalf, and after baptizing, the pastors and elders and 
parents are to feed these little lambs on God's words, and those 
little ones will soon swell the songs that they have his word and 
that is all they want, and if the children are good enough for the 
kingdom of God, they are doubtless good enough for his churches, 
and so let them in. They suit the Lord. I like those kind of 
Scriptures, and the churches of God liked them of old times. 
Parents can carry their children to heaven with them, being in- 
vited to bring them and not to leave them. The parents see to it 
that their children believe in the name of the only begotten Son of 
God. If we discharge our duties in this matter, we can say to the 
devil: lt You shall never have my children to serve you, nor me, 
for we are going to Christ, and are going to carry our children 
with us," and this is an amendment to the past. Carry your 
children to Jesus and give them over in his hands and he will 
safely keep them and raise them up at the last day. If we love 
God and our Savior, we should give him all we have got and not 
divide with the devil. So may it be with us and all the churches 
of the unity, for God exacts it of us. 

SABBATH SCHOOL OF THE CHURCH. 

It may be said that the Sabbath School is a duty the church 
owes to itself and to the community. It should be had and opened 
at 8 o'clock, a. m., the first day of each week which is the 
Christian Sabbath. For two and one-half hours this school should 
be in session by the elders of the church, and the officers of the 
church are its officers. All the church members are its members, 
for it is only a church duty and not the world's to control and 
conduct it. The said elders after opening in due form by prayer 



Unity Church Call. ji 

and the reading of the Scriptures, should proceed to teach from 
the Bible any and as many particular subjects as his ordinance 
could sustain, asking questions and being asked any question that 
may be answered from the floor and in the midst of them, and 
should be able if possible to give satisfaction on all questions in 
the faith and out of it. being ready to give an answer to them that 
asketh thee, in so doing the country will soon, if attended, become 
enlightened to the knowledge of the Bible by the truth that is 
brought out of it by its teachers. The school is a practical sociality 
with t]ie community and it being allowed to its visitors to practice 
singing for diversity and amusement during its setting of the words 
of God. The school should be ruled by love and the guest be 
made joyous if possible by the knowledge that may be found in the 
host. Being conducted by the pastor or elder it gives them great 
influence among the people, and after being occupied two and 
one-half hours the school should be dismissed so as to give one- 
half hour recess before the n o'clock sermon and for refreshment 
of mind. This is to prevent the Sabbath from being a day of 
weariness. It is a day of rest. 

OX BECOMING AS LITTLE CHILDREN. 

Matt.. 1 8 ch., 3 ver. Except ye be converted, and become 
as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 
The example is given to old people, and there are two ways in 
which to fulfill this word. The first way is to become as little 
children to God. is in the sense of not knowing nothing beyond 
what he tells us. not coming in contact with God. The second 
way is to become as little children are to one another. And here 
is the broad field of labor of which may be said are love for 
one another, sociability for one another, a tender heart for one 
another, fondness for each other, and a way of enjoyment for each 
other. When we meet together is a big sum of the matter. Now 
a change from the world to these things are conversion, but the 
doing of them is the becoming as little children. Now for this 
cause the church and pastor should provide a rule entitled "The 
rights of the members of the church after service," enabling them 
to enjoy themselves in a social manner by singing spiritual songs 
or make vocal music and shouting, if they feel so inclined ; and 
reason should be a governor of the time for them to make a joyful 
noise unto the Lord and come before his presence with singing, 
for his goodness to us (See Ps., 98 ch.) is commended to them as 
their rights. We have rights and reasons to be joyous and to make 
a joyful noise before God for too many things to mention here, 
but one thing in particular to thank him for the gift of the Son 
and the Bible, and the wisdom to understand it. 

What it prevents : It helps to stop back-biters ; it helps to 



52 Unity Church Call. 

subdue the ruder traits of the mind : it scatters hatred, lying, and 
cold indifference. 

The good objects are : A love that brings the churches to- 
gether : it puts them in harmony with each other ; it makes them 
do more for the church and pastor : it raises their minds, and it 
drives away their sorrow. 

For the like of it ! People have almost forsaken their churches 
and the God of their salvation, and going the broad way so fast 
that they have not the time to spare to look at the words of God as 
they ought. Good bye ! joy to all in this and to the church ever- 
more. Amen. 

SERVICES OF CHURCHES IN THIS UNION. 

Our services are held on the first day of every week — the 
Christian Sabbath — as follows: At 8 o'clock a. m., Sabbath 
school: at n o'clock, preaching: at i o'clock p. m., social hour; 
at 2 o'clock, recess; at 3 o'clock, preaching: at 4 o'clock, social 
hour; at 5 o'clock, recess: at early candle light, service begins, 
after which the administering of the Lord's supper: every Thurs- 
day night, practical prayer meeting at home with our families and 
relatives. All these services vary according to circumstances. 

At the first dawn of day, before sunrise, every Christian of 
this church should be required to rise and hold family prayer 
meeting in and with the family or the Christians of this church. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH. 

The government of a church is its head or the words of the 
head. As a man is to his family so is Christ unto the church, so 
what Christ has said and done in the way of a guide for the church 
of his choice, Christ, while on earth, taught, led and gave exam- 
ples to it and gave assurance to it and placed life and light in it. 
He gave it the way of salvation and after failing to save it through 
prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, he goes up on the cross and 
there sheds his blood for it and on the third day he arose for our 
justification, and after assembling the apostles of the church several 
times he gave them the law, their guide, the way and the example,, 
the charge of all he had purchased by his blood. After he had 
thus done and said he told them to go and teach all nations, bap- 
tizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy 
Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com- 
manded you. and lo, I am with you always even unto the end of 
the world. Amen. Now when Jesus sent the Holy Ghost down 
upon his disciples is when they received the power and it is with 
them to-day and will remain until the end of the world. We cannot 



Unity Church Call. jj 

change it and don't want it changed. It is just right for us for 
the master knew how to fix it for us, and during his invisible stay 
away the disciples occupy this seat for him. St. John 17. 

We see them in charge of the words of God on the day of 
Pentecost, and when the churches multiply they complain to them 
and they give them deacons, and when they wanted writing done 
they ordered it and it was obeyed, and when men were to preach 
they ordained them in all churches, when members were to be 
excluded they told the church, when they were to be received they 
told them, and when one was to be baptized they baptized him 
and when men lied they spoke to them and they died, so we see 
the power was and is with the bishop yet and Christ says : If we 
love him we will love them, and if we hear his words we will hear 
theirs, and if they keep my sayings they will also keep yours. He 
told them and gave them the law for his church. I give you the 
key of the kingdom and whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be 
bound in heaven. These words were not spoken to the church 
but to the overseers of the church, and so the church and the 
world should obey the man of God for the church would be in a 
bad state without a teacher, so Christ has given them teachers and 
preachers and there would be no Christian church without them. 
So then a church with the preacher and teachings of the Bible is 
the pillar and ground of the truth and all rejection to Christ's min- 
isters, illegal by any church, prevents it from being a church of 
God, for Christ well said : The time will come when they that 
kill you and put you out of their synagogue will think that they are 
doing God's service. So take the Bible for it; there the apostles 
are in charge of which may be now its bishops who are called its 
pastor, so in all cases the church is in power to elect its pastor first 
and then by him elect all other officers mentioned in this book and 
is not in power until then, for the officers to be elected are to do 
the work of the minister and for his aid in this work, and so the 
burdens of the church are distributed among the members to relieve 
heavy burdens on a few. A church of God should always have a 
man of God to lead it, and without the unity of both pastor and 
church the church cannot prosper, but with him the church is in 
power and independent, and makes its own laws and elects its own 
officers and transacts its own business in this denomination, so 
then the government of the church of God is his own words and 
ways performed by his own son Jesus Christ, so may it be, and 
they are the instructors now given by Christ to and for his church, 
but the deacons and elders and clerks arose in and for the churches 
of God and placed in by the ministers of God, and are, it seems, 
accepted with God as though he had appointed them, so you see 
the ministers are citizens and not foreigners. 



54 



Unity Church Call. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH. 

The discipline of the church is a rule or a book which teaches 
in such a way that it enables a family, church or assembly to under- 
stand alike, say the same things and do the same thing. It is a 
guide to the Bible for one another, family, assembly or school, so 
that its contents may be tested and known whether it is right or 
not by all testators, and wherein everyone in the world can square 
his action by the Holy Bible. We think it would be right to print 
what we believe, that our deeds may be approved, therefore we 
come to the light in this sense, so then a discipline is a rule of a 
class or sect, family or school-room. So in Christ we have a rule 
by which he led and still leads, and when he had left the work in 
the hands of the apostles he ordered them to keep the rule and 
follow it. This is why the apostles was written after Christ, as we 
see so many of them by Paul and others. They are the rules and 
guide of the faith of the apostles. So now you see we are in the 
office as apostles, and must go through the same action, as we are 
one in the same family. We do the same kind of work. They 
wrote that the certain rules should be carried out to be christian. 
Eph. , 4 ch. , 4 ver. ; II Cor. , i ch. , i ver. , 6 ch. , i ver. ; Gal. 3 
ch. ; Eph. , 2 ch. : Col. 3 8 chs. ; Rom, 4 ch. : II Tim. . 4 ; I Tim. , 
2,3; Matt., 11 ch. : II Cor., 9 ch. ; Heb., 5 ch. ; Gal., 11 ch. ; 
I Cor.. 13 ch. And so a discipline in all cases and in all things is 
to guide the host of a sect, not the host to guide it. It is to guide 
the host in the way we are going, and that they that are not going- 
this way be made known by their deeds, actions and words ; and 
all that are not of this fold may be disregarded as one of the fold ; 
and that we may know each other in all things pertaining to the 
faith, and make our selections accordingly. So may it be the in- 
tent of all the pastors and churches of this Union to see that each 
and all of the divisions of this discipline is carried out, and any 
other needful thing be done after a careful examination of the 
same, and knowing that it is adopted to the plans of salvation, and 
if any corrections are to be made in this discipline it should be 
carried to the convention at its annual sitting at the time and 
place, and there do the correction that may be determined in. 
The convention, which should meet once a year, and all bishops, 
apostles, elders, evangelists, pastors and teachers should have full 
power to approve or disapprove any or all of the words of this 
discipline. If they do and can be justified by the Scripture. If 
not, they are to stand approved by the assembly ; and if disap- 
proved, or any part thereof, it shall be notified in all the churches 
throughout the entire family so that all may do the same thing. 



Unity Church CalL 53 

The said act is to stand good, subject to be approved by not less 
than two-thirds of the members that compose the convention at 
the next annual sitting. So this work is left to the care and inspec- 
tion of the bishopric and their associates, and we hope it will work 
to the edification of the church and the perfecting of the saints, and 
should be guided in its spreading by the churches for the aid of 
all councils and associations, and convention; should be aided by 
the people that compose the churches. 

If they freely give the aid, the councils, etc., can freely spare 
their time to meet and transact the business necessary for the 
churches of the whole. The word evangelist implies to a minister 
that has been ordained and pastored a church in this faith, but 
who is not a pastor now. but devotes his time entirely to the in- 
structing of the gospel of Christ and setting in order all things per- 
taining to the faith of the Bible. 

x^n apostle is an ordained minister sent to destitute regions to 
minister holy things spiritually. 

A bishop may be said is an energetic workman, expert minister 
of the gospel, who may be said is the pastor of a church and mod- 
erator of an association or president of a convention, etc., and who 
rules in both well. The minister and teachers we know, and each 
and every brother from the bishop down to the elders should bear 
certificates and fruits according to his office, etc. 

These are given to ex-pastors who are wide awake, energetic, 
artful evangelist workers, who are willing to and are ready to de- 
vote his time and talent to the building and rearing churches in 
all destitute regions, which is the work of an evangelist. In ac- 
cordance with Eph., 4:11; II Tim., 4:5, does the work of an 
evangelist make full proof of thy ministry, is the instruction to be 
given. II Tim., 4ch., 1-6 vers. 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE DUTIES OF THE PASTORS AND CHURCHES. 

Although some of the duties of pastor and church have been 
incidentally refeired to in preceding chapters, the subject is too 
important to be dismissed without further consideration. It is 
plain that Christ, in providing for the pastors and the churches to- 
gether, recognized and sanctified the social principles in that he 
says to them: ''Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound 
in heaven;" and the apostles said to those who had believed in 
Christ: "Ye are no more strangers nor foreigners, but fellow citi- 
zens with the saints and of the household of God." Eph., 2 :ig. 
This shows that we owe duties to God and to ourselves and to our 
neighbor as that of a citizen of the heavenly land of God's word. 



j 6 Unity Church Call* 

Having this power, see that ye love one another with a pure heart, 
In so many ways can love manifest itself that it will fail me to tell, 
but it will manifest itself in regards to its pastor, it will show itself 
in respect for his teachings and obedience to its admonition, and 
imitation of his example so far as he follows Christ ; it will put 
support in his treasure for him that he may give himself to the 
work of the ministry and not be perplexed with the things of this 
life. The love of God will make us do good far and near, and to 
love one another, and love for strangers, and for the sick, and for 
the prison-bound, and for the wicked, and for the hungry, and so 
far as they can unto the widow's mite. She must have had more 
love for the cause of that treasure than for herself, or she never 
would have given all she had for its support. The love of God is 
like that. 

That God himself had and you know that he loved all in the 
world and treats them good, so may we say let it be done for the 
glory of God and for eternity. The pastor should, while preach- 
ing the gospel, see that every preacher of his charge especially, 
and every member of the church does something for the service 
and for the souls of men by constantly stirring them up in remem- 
brance of their duties to God and man, and that all duties in this 
book that are not considered contrary to the faith of the Bible, be 
properly taught and carried out to meet the demands of us and all 
men far and near. Mission work should be preached and worked 
up. It is the duty of the pastor of the church to baptize, wash 
the feet of all that it is due to on the becoming members of the 
church, or cause the same to be done by some ministerial power. 
The preacher who is to preach should be ordained before being 
allowed to preach. After ordination the young elders are to be 
cared for by the pastor of the church in providing a greater work 
for them at home and abroad. If possible they should be eneour- 
aged to hold meetings at any neighbor's house or- place in the 
world, and to be backed up by the pastor in the right and in- 
structed in the wrong to himself privately, and if two or three of 
these elders, the pastor or bishop or evangelist agrees to build or 
organize a new church, within the limits prescribed within this 
caller, there is no one to ask but God and the people concerning 
the matter. It should not be built with less than two or three 
members, who are in full fellowship. The new church should be 
recognized and organized under the covenant of the discipline of 
this caller. 

Notice. — The church should be organized for the people and 
the community and not for the pastor. 

On the eve of recognition, they may be examined on this 
matter by the church and pastor, called to recognize the same. 
If the pastor and church see after inspection their full intent is to 



Unity Church Call. 57 

build for God and the community a church in a far or near place, 
go help thy brother in any way that you can that he may need 
and after this lead them in under the covenant of the Unity Union, 
then it may be said that it is a church of God whether large or 
small and is in the unity. 

Remarks. — The two or three members must be members of 
the same faith and order by satisfactory evidence given to the pas- 
tor and council of the church that do the recognizing, and the two 
or three members are impowered after being recognized to elect 
their own pastor, and after that elect all the other officers by him, 
and the church should then be known by a name of some kind and 
not until then. These members must choose their own pastor 
without any aid of the pastor or elder or any instruction. 

HOW TO VOTE. 

According to this rule no office of the elderhood should be in 
the election of a pastor, but the deacons. This may be a part of 
their work and the pastor that runs for the church and loses the 
election should not be recorded nor published. None should be 
reported but the elder elected, and when the work is over the 
pastor is the moderator by virtue of his office, and the church 
should do its duty as is shown in the preceding contents. All 
members are required to vote for or against. In all things don't 
forget the best of all (I John 3:1, 14. 19), which is love for the 
brethren. Amen. 

APPENDIX. 

BUSINESS MEETING OF A CHURCH. ASSOCIATION. ETC. 

Notice. — When the spirit in words of God abound in the 
hearts of Christians, very little if any rules are needed in the busi- 
ness transactions of a church. The pastor or bishop of a church 
should preside at all of its business meetings or some one appointed 
in his stead by him or the church. If the elders are absent as its 
instructor of the words and the ways of complying to and with the 
Word of God, the elders should open the meeting by singing and 
reading a portion of Scripture and prayer. The moderator now 
pronounces the house ready for business : the clerk then comes 
forth and reads the minutes of the last meeting and the moderator 
states if there are no corrections, a motion to amend, the minutes 
stand approved, but if corrections are necessary they are made 
that the record may show exactly what has been done. The mode 
of business should be taken up thus : 

1st. The unfinished business. 

2d. Reports of elders on their spiritual work unsettled. 

3d. Reports of work of the deacons settled or unsettled, 
fixed or unfixed, for the inspection of the same, of church and 
pastor. 



j 8 Unity Church Call, 

It is not necessary to make a motion to take up the unfinished 
business of the church for it is before it and must be acted on un- 
less a motion to postpone its consideration prevails, and so of the 
reports by the elders and deacons or their legal representative. A 
legal representative to any office is one appointed by the church 
and pastor to fill a vacant place for a specified time. The reports 
of the elders are of the griefs unsettled after trying to settle them 
according to St. Matt. 18 ch. 

Notice. — Two characters of offenses must be reported in 
their places, and the offense he reports is either public or private 
and his whole work thereto, so that the church can be satisfied in 
her judgment of his work, for sometimes the teacher needs teach- 
ing and sometime the brother may injure the whole body unaware* 

So the reports should be made on all the work in and for the 
church including all treasurer cases of sickness, death, etc. 

If visitors are present at the meeting they are admitted to de- 
bate on any question, but not allowed to vote or second a motion 
nor make one unless he is a member of the same faith and order 
and so ordered by the pastor and church to do the same, using 
their own judgment about the matter. If there is in this or any 
other meeting a person who desires to become a member of the 
church, they are to make it known to someone of the church that 
the church may extend open doors for their reception, otherwise 
they will not be opened only at its services. 

CONCERNING MOTIONS. 

A motion made and not seconded does not claim the atten- 
tion of the moderator, but if seconded he must put it to a vote up 
or down, and this should be done before there is any debate or 
any other allowed. While a motion is undergoing discussion no 
new motion can be presented, but it would be in order to move or 
amend the motion by striking out or adding words previous, 
since it is even parliamentary to move to amend by striking out all 
after the word resolved and introducing a new matter in conflict 
with the original proposition. This, however, is not an amend- 
ment but a substitute. And amendment is and must be governed 
to the matters embraced in the motion ; a substitute is intended to 
supercede it. The same supposed motion can be withdrawn by 
the mover at any time before a vote is taken ; others think after 
the motion is regularly before the meeting it cannot be withdrawn 
except by consent of the body. The practice of deliberate bodies 
is conforming more and more to the latter view, unanimous con- 
sent however is not necessary. When an amendment is accepted 
by the mover no vote on the amendment is to be taken. If the 
mover does not accept it a separate vote must be taken on the 
amendment, and then on the original proposition. It is in order 



Unity Church Call, $g 

to move to an amendment but this is the uttermost limit to which 
this matter can go. and seldom should be allowed to go so far 
as this. 

PRIVILEGE QUESTIONS. 

These embrace motions to adjourn, to lay on the table, to 
have the privilege question to amend, to commit, to postpone. 
They are called privilege questions because it is supposed they can 
be made at any time. This, however, is not strictly true, for even 
the question of adjournment, which takes precedence of all other 
questions, cannot be presented while a member is speaking or a 
vote is being taken, nor can a motion to adjourn which has been 
negotiated be renewed until some other proposition is made or 
other business transacted. It will really be necessary in the trans- 
action of business in church or association, etc., to call for the 
previous question is made and seconded. The moderator will say, 
Shall the main question now be put or the decision on the original 
motion? If the meeting decides that the main question shall not 
be put it indicates a desire that the discussion shall go on. 

Writers on parliamentary rules differ as to what are privilege 
questions. Jefferson in his manual includes all names above except 
the previous question. Mattheas in his rules of order embrace all 
except the motion to lay on the table. Cashing in his manual 
reduces privilege questions to three, viz. : Adjournment, ques- 
tions of privilege and order of the day, while he ranks as subsidiary 
questions the following previous questions, postponement, commit. 

NOT DEBATABLE. 

Certain motions are not debatable — such as the motion to ad- 
journ, to have the previous question, to lay on the table, etc. 
But when the motions are modified by some condition of time, 
place or purpose, they become debatable motions. To reconsider 
a motion, a proposition formerly adopted must be made by one 
who voted with the majority. If such motion prevails the original 
matter is before the body as if it had never been acted upon. 

POINTS OF ORDER APPEALS. 

If a member in debate violates any recognized rule of order it 
is the business of the moderator, or any other member present, a 
point of order, which the moderator must decide. If the decision 
is unsatisfactory an appeal may be taken to the body, but this 
should be done only in peculiar cases. 

MISCELLANEOUS MOTIONS. 

In stating a motion or taking a vote the moderator should rise 
in his seat. If there is an equal division of votes the moderator 
may give the casting vote or he may refuse if he likes. If declined, 
the motion is decided in the negative. It is not desirable for any 



6o Unity Church Call. 

question that comes before the church to be decided by a majority 
of one vote and that vote to be the moderator's. 

No member can speak except on some definite subject before 
the body unless he wishes to explain why he is about to make a 
motion. It is generally better to make a motion and then after it 
is seconded speak in explanation and defense. When blanks are 
to be filled if different members are present the vote must be taken 
first on the largest number, the longest time, etc. 

If a deliberative body decide beforehand to adjourn at a cer- 
tain hour, when that hour arrives the moderator, without waiting 
for a motion, must pronounce the meeting adjourned. 

FORM OF MINUTES, LETTERS, ETC. 

There are no regular forms but the following are recommended 
as suitable. 

RECORD OF CHURCH MEETING. 

Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 17, 1893. 

The of the great Christian Unity met at o'clock 

a. m., or p. m. as the case may be, the pastor or elder in the 
chair. After devotional exercises minutes of the last meeting were 
read and approved. After this whatever business is done must be 
recorded. Adjourn, pastor or elder in the chair. 

— , Pastor. 

letters of dismission. 

Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 17, 1893. 

The church of the great Christian Unity which was organized 
by the negro race of America November 15, 1891. To a sister 

church of this union at o'clock to-day, this church did grant 

unto Brother or Sister a letter of dismission for the 

purpose of uniting with you for his or her convenience at his or 
her own request. This is done being in good standing with us. 
When he or she has so united, his or her connection with us will 
cease. Done by order of the church and pastor, or elders, or 
church clerk. 

This letter will be good for months. Let it be from 

one to six months, left to the discretion of the church. 

LETTERS OF NOTIFICATION. 

Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 13, 1891. 

To the brethren composing the great Christian Unity church at — : 

You are hereby notified that , has joined us by 

letter of dismission from you to membership in this church. All 
rights reserved to us we hope. 

Done by order of the church this day of 

, Pastor. 



Un ity Ch u rch Ca I L 



61 



LETTERS OF COMMENDATION. 

These are usually given to members by the pastor or elders 
for him who expects to travel awhile. Form as follows : 

New York, May 5. 1890. 

Dear Bro. — This certifies that , is a member of 

the great Christian Unity church at , County of 

, State of , and if he should come on you 

in his journey I hope he will be received to your fellowship. 

Witness my hand this day of 189 — 

Pastor. 

Elder. 

CALL FOR A RECOGNIZED COUNSEL. 

London, Aug. 17, 1890. 
To the brethren composing the great Christian Unity church at : 

A number of brothers and sisters in this place desire to come 
in union with you, therefore we ask counsel at your hands here at 

this place in regard to the same on the day of ■ 

189 — , at o'clock p. m., or a. m. as the case may be, by 

order of the assembly. 

Notice. — This kind must be sent to the nearest church of this 
faith and order or to some evangelist of the same who is engaged 
in this work, or bishop. 

FORM OF CREDENTIALS. 

Credentials of the great Christian Unity churches which were 
organized by the negro race of America November 15, 1891. 
Author, Rev. B. B. Smith and the church of which he was pastor. 

This is to show that Bro. was publicly ordained 

in the gospel ministry by the laying on of hands and prayer, to go 
into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He 
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth 
not shall be damned. By this command of God and the free will 
of this brother, and the sanction of the church of which he was a 
member, he was ordained to this work, trusting that the great head 
of the church may indorse him with all needful grace and crown 
his labors with abundant success, and that the providence of God 
may direct all of his ways in this life that he may be able for eter- 
nity to build. Ordination being ended we hereby give this our 
beloved brother our cordial approbation in commending him to 
the world at large and to the saints of God wherever he may find 
them, from the date of this ordination until God shall call him 
hence away. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abund- 
antly above all that we ask or think according to the power that 



62 Unity Church Call, 

worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus 
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

Ordination was performed by , pastor, 

elders, in church at , Postoffice, , County 

of , State of , this the day of 

189 — . Church Clerk. 

CERTIFICATE OF AN EVANGELIST. 

This is to satisfy all the church connection of all sects that 

Rev. , after being raised and brought up by the church 

(here state the origin of the brother), did after years stay in 

the same and after which passed into whatever church he may, if 

any, and after years stay in the same after which he became a 

minister in the great Christian Unity, which was organized by the 
negro race of America, a denomination wherein exists no strife, 
envy nor hatred, and after thorough examination of the changes 
and opinions of this brother, Rev. , finding him justi- 
fied for so doing in our judgment, after which decision we did and 
do honor him with the honor of working up and raising a denomi- 
nation wherein exists no denominational strife, known as the great 
Christian Unity, whose doctrine is as clear as a crystal, pure as 
gold, solid as a rock, and we do in the name of the almighty God 
commend him to the world at large as a man of God with the 
whole heart donated thereto, trusting that the grace of God and 
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the great head of the church 
may rest upon him, and that the providence of God may guide 
him into all truth and crown his labor with abundant success, even 
till God shall call him hence away. 

It is thus commended by order of the church or churches 

this the day of A. D. 189 — , P. O., , 

County of , State of . 

, Clerk of said counsel. 

MARRIAGE CEREMONY. 

Marriage is an institution of divine appointment given in wis- 
dom and kindness to increase human happiness and to support 
social order in the Bible, which should be the lamp to our path- 
way in every relation. You will find the direction needed in this : 
In token of your decided choice of each other as partners for life, 

you Mr. and Mrs. or Miss will please 

unite your right hands (joining of right hands and hold to). Do 
you solemnly promise before almighty God and these witnesses 

Mr. , that you will take this woman, M — , 

to be your wedded wife in preference of all that you have seen or 
may see, love her, cherish her and support her, agreeing to per- 
form all the duties growing out of the relation into which you are 
about to enter, and to make every reasonable exertion to promote 



Unity Church Call. 63 

her happiness until the union into which you are going into is 
dissolved by death. Answer, I will. 

Will you Mrs. or Miss take this man, Mr. 

, to be your wedded husband, love, cherish, honor 

and obey him and comfort him in preference of all that you have 
or may see, agreeing to perform all the duties growing out of the 
relation into which you are about to enter, and agreeing to use 
<every exertion to promote his happiness, forsaking all others for 
him, cleaving unto him until the union into which you are going is 
dissolved by death. Answer, I will. 

In view of the promises thus made by both of you I do now 
by virtue of authority invested in me as a minister of the gospel, 
pronounce you husband and wife, henceforth interest and destiny 
as in affection one, and what God has joined together let not man 
put asunder, henceforth now and forevermore. Amen. 

Then the Lord's Prayer should be repeated by the host for 
dismission of the service. 

Notice. — Marriages are performed by all ministers of this 
church who will have their credentials or certificates recorded in 
some county or other in the United States and no other in this 
faith. The minister should begin the matter by saying to the host, 
after calling the house to order and the couple on the floor before- 
hand, we have assembled for the purpose of solemnizing the rite 

of matrimony between Mr. and Miss . 

If there is any just cause wherein that this man and woman may 
not be lawfully joined together we want you to speak now or else 
forever hereafter hold your peace. If no objection then read the 
form to them as directed above. 

GENERAL CONCLUSION. 

To the churches and 7ninisters , greeting: 

Of things not written in this book I will say unto you it should 
not be expected that we should write everything in the Bible when 
the world is getting wiser every day. If this is so we would ex- 
pect a greater knowledge of you in the future. 

And again, if this is so we don't think that we could be able 
to teach the race four or five hundred years ahead. The Bible is 
a book that contains mysteries and God's ways are past finding 
out. And the Lord said unto us watch, I say unto you watch, I 
say unto all watch. So you just do that as you ought and you will 
see something about the Bible and yourselves that you never saw 
before, and if you see any other thing written in the Bible and 
taught in the Scriptures and omitted in this discipline, you would 
not treat your Lord right if you don't do it, for he is Lord of Lords 
and King of Kings, and we must follow him, and we are trying to 
do that which caused us to write this discipline and it may cause 



6j. Unity Church Call. 

you to write another, so be admonished my brother in writing 
many books, let them all be written to follow Christ and not to get 
ahead of him as Peter sometimes did, and he will lead us out of 
this world of darkness into a world of life. There is none lost by 
following Christ nor ever will be. There is but one class that goes 
from this earth to heaven and that is. he who doeth the will of the 
Father which is in heaven. This is what he said in Matt. 7:21. 
Many will fail for not following Christ (22 ver.) and will under- 
take to prove by Christ that he is right. Now do these things for 
your Lord and one thing for us and family, and that prayers be 
offered up for all saints everywhere and that utterance be given 
unto us that we may boldly lift up the Word of God in every place 
that we may be permitted to go. Amen. 

Our general public prayer is found in Matt. 6:9-14; our 
private prayer is for what we want. Now I hope we will all want 
something and ask for it. The Scriptures say : If any of you lack 
wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth freely and upbraideth not. 
James 1:5. That is what we want. If the race could only find 
that out : it is not money, food nor raiment, but it is wisdom that 
this race needs. So don't ask for money nor riches, but ask for 
wisdom, for we need it in abundance. God has got it for us so 
we have nothing to do but to ask him for it. Now as we believe 
that the end of this world is approaching every day and that at the 
last day there will be a final retribution, when Christ the Lord shall 
descend from heaven with the trumpet of God and with the shout 
of an archangel and raise up all the dead, the wicked shall go 
away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal. 
We are commanded then, Go ye therefore, teach all nations, bap- 
tizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the 
Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have 
commanded you : and, lo, I am with you always even unto the 
end of the world. Amen. 

THE END. 



UNITY CHURCH CALL. 

The price of this Call is 75 cents. Sent postpaid to any ad- 
dress in the United States of America for 80 cents. 

B. B. Smith's three days sermon on ;i Faith in Christ," 15 

cents. Sent postpaid on receipt of price. 

P. O. — Tomberlins, Lonoke County, Ark., and Little Rock, Ark* 



Unity Church Call. 

DESIGNED FOR THE CHURCHES OF THE 

Great Christian Unity 

A DENOMINATION ORGANIZED BY THE 

Negro Race of America 

November 15, 1891. 

t 



At 



FIRST BOOK BY THE / 



Evangelistic Preacher, B. B. SMITH & SONS. 



Entered According to Act of Congress and Copyrighted by 
B. B. SMITH & SONS, 
Tomberlins, Lonoke Co., Arkansas. 

} V 1891. \ 



0 



J. 



LIBRARY OF 



CONGRESS 



0 021 897 



5 



